FEN 2016/03/28(Mon)04:59 No. 711860 ID: 09eda1
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I open the message from Lily.

Lily ♡ 9:56 PM 19/3/2012
Hey!!! Hope this message doesn't wake you up but I heard you mentioned on the radio!! It must really suck doing a search in weather like this, how do you stay dry?? ('^')" Oh that reminds me, I'm off work this week- do you want to grab a drink sometime? Sleep well!! ☆ Lily

...she's so nice.

>>711860
>do you want to grab a drink sometime?
Dude she's into you! Accept the invitation if you've got any possible timeslot to do it.

On the topic of your hunches, the way you've phrased them is not entirely unreasonable - it seems like you could maybe get somebody to ask related questions. Like, if you explain it from the point of view of "The kids had everything going for them; there's nothing for them to run from. What if they were instead running *to* something illusory? Delusions of grandeur, possible fame or fortune." Is magic a publicly acknowledged thing? If so, kids having an idea of being "the chosen one" might not be completely unreasonable. "And heaven forbid it was instigated or encouraged by a 3rd party."

>do you want to grab a drink sometime
Having your mind on something else might do you good. Go out and grab a few drinks.

>>712016
also yes grab a drink
consider doing some scandalous handholding while youre at it

>>711858
Text back, acknowledging and thanking her.

>>711860
Say yeah, you'd like that.

FEN 2016/04/25(Mon)23:54 No. 719264 ID: 5fe984
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I send Angie a reply, short and civil, if a bit curt. My response to the other message takes a bit longer to write- I'm not really sure gow to reply without sounding weird.
Hey Lily! Thanks so much for writing, and yes- I'd love to go get a drink sometime! I'm not sure what my week will look like yet, but maybe we could meet tomorrow after I finish work? Good night and see you soon!
...It sounds okay, I think.

---
The morning finds me already dressed, cup of coffee in hand. A second message from Angelica notifies me that a one "R. Willows" will be here to pick me up in fifteen minutes, so I still have a moment before I leave. I've never met officer Willows, so I'm not sure what to expect, but I don't feel too worried. I sit down at the kitchen table and check my phone one last time.
> Check the news?
> Look at a map of the city?
> Something else?
> Nothing for now.

news for sure!

We should check the news.

Grab some more coffee and check the news. Maybe they've got some new info?

Take a look at the map of the city and start thinking of good places you haven't looked yet.

FEN 2016/05/13(Fri)01:18 No. 722920 ID: 2067a4
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I pour myself some more coffee and open the news. Hm... there's a piece on a new fantasy game coming out, some political scandal, and an article on using dragonfruit to promote healthy hair. What the fuck.
I switch to the local news, since that looks to be the only chance of getting actual information. Seems there was some sort of fire last night way over in the industrial quarter, though thankfully free of casualties. Poor Mia's all over the news too, and the article is pulling the whole "the police have no leads" thing. Okay, can't really blame them. It's kinda true.
The maps on my phone won't load, but thankfully I know most of the city by heart. If I remember right, I'll be checking the south-east part of the city; that's clubs, alleys, seedy little shops... I'd rather be on the patrol that goes through the main part of the city. Marketplaces and parks really sound more appealing. It's kind of a selfish way to think about this though, I suppose.

FEN 2016/05/13(Fri)01:19 No. 722921 ID: 2067a4
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The doorbell rings and I get up to answer it.
"Officer Willows here, great to see you!" A wolf pushes through the doorway with a wide smile. "You're Vee, right?"
"Uh. Yeah." Suddenly I'm not feeling too chatty. I pull out a chair at the kitchen table. "Um. Coffee?" I offer.
Willows shakes their head empathetically, plopping down in the chair. "I'm good, thanks! I had a mocha on my way here." They drum their fingers against the tabletop. "Oh! Great to see you're in civilian too!" They laugh sincerely. "I was worried I'd forgotten we should be in uniform, hah."
I take a gulp of coffee, wincing slightly at the bitterness beneath the sugar. "Nah. The memo said civilian clothes."

FEN 2016/05/13(Fri)01:20 No. 722922 ID: 2067a4
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"We should probably get going.." I check my phone, it's already past eight. I do a last sweet of the room, making sure I have everything I need. Wallet, check. Phone, check. ID, check. I grab my keys off the counter. "Are you ready, officer Willows?"
Willows gives me a cheerful thumbs-up. "Just call me Rye. Let's go!"
I shut the door behind us and follow Rye down the stairs. As we reach the exit, I take a deep breath. Okay. I can do this. I steady myself and step out into the early-morning light.

Hit up the seedy shops first. Maybe they've got some kind of child slave trade ring going on you could expose.

Whoops just noticed spelling error, that should be sweep not sweet! Anyway, I got some neat markers yesterday so! The next updates might be in color if you guys want!

>>723912
Not sure how I'd feel about color in this quest. I kind of like the style you're using right now. btw, amazing story!

Any stores or people in that shady area that you know have bad records, maybe with stuff involving kids? If not, could you get that information from the station? Or maybe Rye knows.

>>723912

Oh yeah, forgot to put this in my reply. The color vibe it has now actually is pretty fitting to your story, its nice. :) Good job on getting a nice cool atmosphere! If you want to try out color, I don't see why not, you do you!

FEN 2016/07/31(Sun)15:02 No. 739837 ID: b68e42
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"Are you sure this is the place?" The door is heavy, the clunky metal kind that's always a pain in the ass to pull open. "It doesn't look like...Well. Much of anything, really."
Rye shakes their head. "Wait 'til you see the inside- this is totally the place to be!"
"We're working," I remind them, following them down cement stairs into the building's basement.
"Doesn't mean this can't be fun..." Rye waves a hand. "And don't worry. If there's any information on our missing girl, it'll be here."
I bite back a sharp remark. Am I the only person that actually cares about this? This isn't a fucking game!
"You're optimistic," I finally say, doing my best not to sound bitter.
"Well, somebody should!" Rye stops in front of a door set in the corridor's wall, the same type as the entrance one. It's an old habit, but I knock quietly- first knuckles, then just fingertips. Reinforced steel, soundproofed from the other side. You'd probably need dynamite to crack this one open.
Rye pushes against it- for better or for worse, the door is unlocked.

FEN 2016/07/31(Sun)15:04 No. 739838 ID: b68e42
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I'm struck with a multitude of sensations- flashing lights and velvet and choking, lavender smoke. I've barely stepped inside when I bump into a waitress- she stumbles but doesn't drop her tray, somehow not spilling a single drop of the drinks she's carrying. "Sorry!" I can barely hear myself over the music, bass so low I can feel it in my chest.
The waitress waves her free hand dismissively. "S'alright, honey, happens all the time." She looks me up and down, raises a single, perfect eyebrow. "You new here, love?"
"I think we'll skip the tour today, Cass." Rye interrupts, suddenly standing beside me again. "Sorry." They smile apologetically at the waitress- Cass, I correct myself- and rub the back of their neck. "We're here to see mister Ziggy, actually."
"Are you really." Cass raises her other eyebrow, but doesn't seem particularly moved. "You got an appointment, starshine?"
"Wait-" I take advantage of the momentary lull to face Rye. "Mister Ziggy? As in the Ziggy? As in g-"
"Later." Willows' peppyness is suddenly gone, as if I've said something wrong. The hand they're rubbing their neck with tightens for a second, but then the moment is over, almost unnoticeable.
"We have important business to discuss with Mister Ziggy, Cass. Could you please tell him Willows and guest are here to see him?"
Cass glances around, eyes flickering over the club- or at least what resembles a club, because I've never seen a place quite like this. The room is largely empty right now, though- probably because it's still so early.
"Yeah," she finally says. "You two better wait here, then."

Take a moment to think of some good questions. Maybe you could ask your partner here a little bit more about this place as well.

Bust out some dance moves and enjoy the music.

FEN 2016/08/05(Fri)05:27 No. 740546 ID: c14752
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As soon as Cass disappears behind a pair of double doors at the far end of the room, I whip around to face Rye.
"Now, tell me, Willows," I can feel a snarl creeping into my voice, but I choke it down. "Why the fuck have you brought us here?"
Rye shrugs, but doesn't look away. "These are the only people who can help us. You know that, Officer, right?"
We're unprepared- Rye should know that. I rub my arm, slowing my breath to match the rythm of the music. Ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump. In, out. In, out. "We can't hold our own against a gang," I say.
They shrug again. "You wanna find the kid or not?"
"Look, it's-" I lower my voice. "The job has its risks, but this is unnecesary- You could've at least mentioned where we were going, anything-"
I break off. Cass is back, leaning against the bar- she sees me looking and gives a little wave. "Hey," she says mildly.
"Cass! You said we had visitors?" The double doors swing out, the draft filling the room with the cloying, fruity smell of pipe-smoke. In a cloud of purple, Ziggy steps into the room.

FEN 2016/08/05(Fri)05:52 No. 740547 ID: 330e69
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"Ah, there they are!" The poodle swings around, voice low and lilting, outspread arms marking a circle in the air. "What business brings visitors to our humble establishment?"

Ziggy takes a puff off his pipe, exhales a slow stream of smoke. I can't help but follow his every motion as he walks towards us- he moves with the grace of a dancer, the lithe lightness of his walk almost unfitting for someone powerful. I've never seen him in person before, but he is instantly recognisable, an artificial beauty bordering on grotesqueness. Cass moves aside to let him pass, and he gives her a slight nod, the motion almost mechanical in contrast. He turns to Rye, the easy smile on his face unchanging, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "You are aware you were warned not to enter these premises, no?"

Oh boy... Rye, what did you do to get banned from a gang's club?

Straight-up say that you are here for a missing kid, any attempts to stop you from investigation will put them in immediate suspicion.

Does any gang want to get the reputation of being a kiddy-snatcher?

FEN 2016/08/06(Sat)10:16 No. 740686 ID: cbedfa
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"This isn't a personal visit- we're looking for a missing kid." I don't give Rye a chance to say anything and push forward to hand Ziggy a photo of Mia. "This is an investigation, sir, so I'd take it kindly if you were to answer my questions properly." It's not a threat, as much as I'd like it to be- all of us know who holds power here. I'm fucking seething, but I can't afford that right now. "Have you seen this child?"
Ziggy's face is impassive as he looks over the flyer, eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly as he reads. "Niet," he finally says. "You will have to ask around." He exhales, wreathing us in smoke. "Cassandra, she will take you to our watchman, if you wish. If you would not mind, I would remain here with your friend for a few moments...We have, ah, matters to discuss."
"I'm not sure we want to split up..." Rye meets my gaze and gestures vaguely, unreadable.
"You will come of no harm, if that is your worry," Ziggy takes another puff off his pipe, pearl-white teeth cracking into a grin. "Not yet."

>>740686
Does that extend to both of you? If so, okay.

Who is here to ask? What information can u get from these looooooooooooooooosers

FEN 2016/08/08(Mon)10:58 No. 741118 ID: 4562ec
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Well that sure wasn't the least fucking bit ominous.
"So, is that 'we both get to leave safely', or? I'm not really digging the whole 'plural "you"' today." I fold my arms across my chest. "Sorry, I think I'm getting a headache and I really don't feel like going through cryptic gang procedure."
Ziggy stares at me for a while, long enough for me to start doubting the sense behind my outburst. "You're odd," he says mildly. "I would speak to your friend, now- no harm shall come to either of you."

"Okay," I concede. "I can work with that. So, who here can I ask?"

Cass steps forward, stands on her toes to whisper something to Ziggy. After a moment, he straightens up. "Our watchman is up on the roof right now- you can go speak to her, if you wish. Cassandra will walk you to our records room when you're ready." He waves a hand. "You may go."

That turned out better than expected. Thank them and check with the watchman.

Alrighty, go to that watchman, but be careful. Always be prepared for a jump or a fight in this sorta place.

Let's think of questions to ask, like: Did you see a little girl of this description on so-and-so time? Do little girls come through here often? Who would we ask for more info? Where can u get a good coffee around here?

1/3 FEN 2016/09/04(Sun)11:40 No. 746046 ID: b68e42
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Cass is quiet while we walk, hard-soled shoes clack-clack-clacking on the linoleum floor. The hall is badly lit, light fixtures that could use replacing. It smells like hand sanitizer.
I consider asking Cassandra something, but the silence doesn't seem forced, just thoughtful. I let it go. I prepare myself for talking to the watchman, whoever they are. I wonder why Willows knows about this place.
The building reminds me of a highschool I used to go to- metal staircases and dark halls and that pervasive, weird chemical smell. I trail my fingers along the walls as we walk, trying to memorise our path. Left. Right. Left. Stairs, stairs, stairs. Left again, locked door. More stairs. Just in case.
Cass stops abruptly in front of yet another door, and I nearly run into her. There's a window a little ways past the stairwell and I can see a sliver of sky between the buildings outside, a thin stripe of cornflower grey.
"You're okay with heights, right?" She says.
"Sure," I say. It's not a lie.
Cass pulls a ring of keys out of her pocket, and they jangle as she fits one of them into the door's lock. "Be careful," she tells me. "There aren't any barriers up here, so don't go too close to the edge."

2/3 FEN 2016/09/04(Sun)11:41 No. 746047 ID: b68e42
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I inhale deeply, wind pulling at my hair as I step outside. Pale, thin clouds scud by overhead, carrying away the wet old leaves that have come up from under the melting snow. The air tastes of rain and fresh earth, almost enough to hide the oil and rust of the city below.
"Over here." Cassandra points to a sort of small shed standing beside the entrance we just passed through. She rubs her arms, kneading out the goosebumps rising on her skin. She's dressed even lighter than I am, chilled by the crisp spring air. "Wait here a moment, mm'kay? I'll go explain the situation." She mutters something and walks off.
As I lean out to look over the edge of the roof, I'm thankful the surface is flat and even. It doesn't look that high from the ground, but I really wouldn't want to fall from up here.

3/3 FEN 2016/09/04(Sun)11:42 No. 746048 ID: b68e42
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There's a commotion from the shed, and the sound of something slamming against a table. The door swings back open and Cassandra walks out, followed closely by a short, pale-haired rabbit.
"Officer Vee, this is Yuri, Yuri, this is officer Vee," Cass introduces us. Yuri looks me up and down, and doesn't shake my extended hand. She shoves her hands into her cargos' pockets instead, scuffing at the ground with the toes of her combat boots. "Mhm," she grunts.
"Pleased to meet you," I say. I lower my hand, unsure of what to do with it, then reach into my pockets to pull out my ID. Yuri stares at me the whole time, unblinking and unwelcoming.
"As Ms Cassandra said, I'm officer Vee," I say. "I'm here to look at the records and surveillance footage from the last few days." I resist the urge to squirm under her gaze- I'm uncomfortable, but I can't afford to show it. "We're looking for a missing kid," I add, lamely.
"...Ohhh." The rabbit's eyes flash with what appears to be the barest amount of recognition. "So you're with that cunt downstairs," she finally says.
"Um." I shrug, at a loss. "I guess? Yeah. I am. Right."
"Mhm." Yuri turns to spit over the edge of the roof, silent as she watches the saliva spatter on the pavement below, and I follow her gaze. She's quiet for a long, long time, long enough for me to worry she's forgotten I'm here. Cass stirs, next to me, and moves off to wait inside, in the warmth.
"You got any smokes?"
I look up with a start to meet Yuri's cool gaze. "Sorry?"
"I said, you got any smokes?" She snaps her fingers, irritably. "I can't work without a smoke break."

Do we? If so, I suppose we could share.

yyyyes? i mean, i hope we do. this is a good sign, though, she might be open to talking as long as we move at her pace.

1/1 FEN 2016/09/05(Mon)10:13 No. 746230 ID: b68e42
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"Oh. Uh." I dig half a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of my jeans. "Here."
Yuri takes a cigarette and sticks one end in her mouth, then lights it with a click of the Zippo. She nods stiffly, hands back the lighter and exhales a slow stream of grey. She's quiet again, sucking on the cigarette hard enough for the tip to flare.
I light a smoke for myself and offer Yuri the pack again- she takes one and lights it on the end of the first, steady fingers. There's a bunch of tiny scars on her wrists, little patches of raised white skin. She catches me looking and stuffs her hands back into her pockets, dropping what's left of the old cigarette onto the gravel covering the roof. She stubs it out with a boot, eyes fixed on the ground. "You wanted to see security footage," she says flatly.
"Yeah." I extinguish my cigarette (barely half burned, she smokes so fast compared to me) and stick it back in the box. "That would be nice."
"I don't wanna get arrested," Yuri shrugs. "Over here."
She opens the door to the shed with a half-hearted kick and I follow her inside. Yuri pushes aside a stack of papers and sits down in the only available seat, a plastic chair set in front of a table covered in computer monitors and food wrappers. She turns on the screens one by one, watching them flicker to life.
"Date," she prompts.
"Right. So." I double-check my notes. "The day before yesterday, that's-"
"March fourteenth."
"Yeah. From, uhh, eleven P.M. on march fourteenth to seven A.M. this morning, all outside cameras." I rub my nose. "You got all that?"
"3/14 (23:00) - 3/16 (7:00), all outside cameras," Yuri says. "32 H of footage per camera." She raises an eyebrow, managing to look vaguely more interested than before. "32 x 6 H total. That's gonna take a while."

"i can wait."

she's being surprisingly cooperative, given her initial attitude - make sure to thank her for doing this

1/3 FEN 2016/09/05(Mon)10:43 No. 746235 ID: b68e42
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Content warning for flashing colors and images in the attached file this time around! Please be careful!


"I can wait," I say.
Yuri shrugs.
"Oh, uh." I scratch the back of my neck. "Yuri, right?"
"Yeah?" Her eyes narrow slightly.
"I wanted to say. Um. Thanks."
She tilts her head suspiciously. "?"
"I wanted to say thanks," I repeat. "For helping me out, I mean. It means a lot."
"It's not like I have much to do around here anyway," Yuri shrugs, but her expression softens slightly. "You got a photo of the kid?"
"Right." I hand her the flyer.
She studies it carefully, drinking in the image, then hands it back. "Okay," she says, stretching as she turns back to face her desk. "You might wanna close your eyes for a second now..." Her fingers touch the screens, and then the monitors explode into color.

FEN 2016/09/05(Mon)10:44 No. 746237 ID: b68e42
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"..."

.... magic? maybe? or something else? what WAS that

Did you get any information out of those colors, or did it seem like gibberish to you? And hey, most importantly, did Yuri get chu what you was all looking for?

Also was that forehead eye always there

1/1 FEN 2016/09/05(Mon)12:19 No. 746271 ID: b68e42
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What... what the eveRLOVING FUCK.

Yuri blinks slowly, unfreezing as she removes her hands from the computer screens. The colors die down and wink out one by one, leaving the monitors blank save for a set of barely-visible fingerprints. She takes a step back in a badly-concealed stagger and sinks back into the chair. Yuri reaches under the desk and pulls out a six pack of beer, pops one open and takes a really long drink.
"Pissface," she says, faintly.
"Wha- how did you do that?" I try not to look too closely at the third eye folding itself back into her forehead, clear discharge leaking into her fur as layers of skin knit themselves back together.
"I'm fucking awesome," Yuri says.
"Oh," I say mildly. "That makes sense." I'm totally definitely not freaking out at all. I take a deep breath. "So. Um. Did you, uh, see anything?"
Yuri leans back in the chair, and I fall silent as I wait for her to finish her beer. "Sure," she finally confirms. "Brat went through here around 2:24 A.M. yesterday morning. Short, round glasses, ugly sweater. Gotta be her." She rolls her sholders. "You still got those cigarettes?"
I toss her the pack- she takes three and puffs them one after another, chain-smoking, nicotine-hungry. I tell her she can keep the rest, too.
Just as I'm beginning to doubt she has any more to add, Yuri speaks up again. "You'll wanna check out the Rust Houses," she finally says. She stubs out a cigarette against the side of one of her computers with the hiss of burning plastic, already losing interest in me. "So. Yeah. Watch your back or whatever, I guess." She falls silent for a beat. "...I really think you should go now."
"Oh. Right." I turn in the doorway, the draft swirling through layers of cigarette smoke, mixing old and new. "Yuri?"
She twists to look at me over her shoulder. "Hm?"
"Thank you. I mean it."
I step out, cross the roof in three long steps, and head back into the main building. It looks like I'm done here for now.

Since there's nothing else, go back and check to see if your friend is finished talking. Then both you can follow the lead you just got.

Hmmm, it would have been nice to get a copy of that footage, but maybe we have the lead we need for now.

Chapter Two: http://tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/757043.html