[CONSOLE] video;

[forgediron]

[Zanru looks irritable. This is nothing new. She also looks tired, and that makes the irritability worse. Whoever has been going around the city is focussing enough on Metal Sector that they've lost a bit of revenue and held up a few projects owing to, oh, vital components being filched.]

Right, listen up. Someone's been haunting the city, stealing things and leaving people bloodied. There's been rumours spreading, so let's clear some of it up.

Fact A: Yes, I know the perpetrator can use something that looks a lot like shadows. No, that does not mean the Old Nightmare is back. Think big, people. He wasn't so small-minded as this.

Fact A-dot-1: No, it isn't that Foreigner bloke who throws shadows about either. He's laid up and can't be in two places at once.

Fact B: The perpetrator can probably shapeshift and is probably not made of metal. Stop blaming the Foreigners for every petty thing, it makes us look bad. No matter how idiotic they can be.

Now, I don't care if people moonlight as a damned roof-hopper. What I do care about is knowing whether this person is involved in the crimes, stopping them, or just generally trying to build up some kind of morale game. Whatever the case, it's stupid and it's pissing me off.

The only competent investigators we've got left are Foreigners, so this is over to you: Get me the idiot who's playing up. I'm available on this broadcast for the next hour for questions and contracts. Anything after that I'll pick up as I've got time.


[ooc: Related to this plot here, but will not progress at any point beyond what Callaghan's mun stipulates. This is not an NPC plot, just NPCs reacting to things that happen.]

Comments

[forgediron]

[Zanru is certainly not passive in her aggression, Tony, silly boy. The issue here is more divining clear-cut lines between work, play and vigilantism. Stark is not helping.]

Good for you. But what I need is someone to actually catch the guy. We've got those shields and a few other bits. If we need your help to beef up security later on I'll know where to find you, but I want your focus on the contract or investigation.

[Extra-flat look.]

And don't you dare sneak around our cargo and warehouses for 'protection' anyway. We've got enough problems with certain people thinking they have authority over the whole city without more vigilantes running amok, and the guy I want to catch is one of them. Don't be stupid and add to the number.

[If he does, she's going to be pissed. It's a specific request, and if he's still too arrogant to accept that maybe the Metalworkers want handle security on their own without some overpowered and so far unnecessary help, there's going to be hell to pay. For one thing, it could constitute interference in family matters unrelated to his contract, in which case Stark would be in violation of said contract and Zanru'd have every right to throw the book at him.

[If he's caught. But surely after Xuiyu gave him a talking-to not even Stark's that stupid.]

[highprofilerichkid]

[There are lines between those things? That's news to Tony.

Tony takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly, trying to find his inner calm. What little of it he has.] Okay. Just let me know if you need me. I'll look at what's been taken and see if I notice any patterns.

[And he'll do patrols, too. He'll just do them stealthed, and he won't tell Zanru. And, as a compromise, he'll keep an eye out everywhere except Metalworker cargo and warehouses. See how she likes that when her stuff keeps getting stolen.]

[forgediron]

Take it to Pleasant or Aya if you do.

[You say that like you're the only one who can stop the thefts, Stark. And you wonder why she doesn't want your input.]

[highprofilerichkid]

Skul? Is he taking point on this? [Right, hasn't he said he's, like, a detective or something? The idea of a skeleton (who doesn't need to eat or sleep and can use magic) having a career, especially as a detective, has always seemed kind of weird to Tony. But he guesses being an immortal (?) skeleton with nothing to do would get boring after a while.] Okay. I'll... do that.

[Maybe he's not the only one who can stop the thefts, but he's the one who can do it easiest, most efficiently, and with the most style. He's like an artisan. An artisan of crime-stopping and punching. Don't you appreciate craftsmanship, Zanru? Gosh.]

[forgediron]

No, I just thought I'd throw the whole mess in his lap without asking first.

[Does no one pay attention to other transcripts on the network?]

Good. Anything else, or are you getting on with your job now?

[Arrogant twat.]

[highprofilerichkid]

[Skul only said he'd help, not that he'd run the operation. Scuze him for not being psychic, Zanru.

This time, Tony actually does roll his eyes, and disconnects. Whatever.

You're not wrong.]