[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]

Does anyone pay attention to what I've already said? Tech components, mostly.

[What's with all these new child Foreigners, seriously?]

[needmetoo]

[And this one's more a child than most.]

S-sorry.

[She probably should have paid more attention] I don't... think that sounds like the Heartless. They don't steal things like that.

But... I can tell you what I saw. And... if there's anything else I can do to help, I can help.

[forgediron]

Whatever Heartless are.

We've got enough people, but if you're a witness you should talk to that Skulduggery Pleasant skeleton detective fellow, or Aya. They're taking things further and they'll probably want a description.

[needmetoo]

Um. They're... there are a lot of them on the worlds I've been to in the past. They like to steal people's hearts, and cause all kinds of trouble.

[She's trying to go for a better explanation this time. One that won't raise hackles or get her antagonistic responses.]

They're not... the ones I've met aren't really smart though, except for how to fight, to try and get hearts. [Sort of like an animal that was good at hunting down prey but not solving math problems.] And I haven't seen any here, anyway.

[forgediron]

... Right. Shadows that rip out hearts. Fantastic. No wonder you people prefer it here.

[needmetoo]

Oh! It's more than just Shadows!

[SO SORRY ZANRU BUT SHADOWS ARE ACTUALLY A TYPE OF HEARTLESS.]

Some look more like birds or little soldiers or flowers or things. A lot of them have the same emblem though. The others are usually all black, or other really dark colors, with yellow eyes.

[forgediron]

And you all think Keeliai is weird.

[She sighs.]

Okay, whatever. If they're not here, then good. Anything else, you'd better take to the other two.

[needmetoo]

It's not really that weird... I've seen weirder. Maybe it is for other people though, who've only been to one world.

[She's not trying to be contrary she promises, if anything she sounds thoughtful.]

I will, though. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Though not until after the 18th or so to protect continuity.]

[forgediron]

[Grunt.]

If everyone were of help we'd have the guy by now. Carry on.

[She'll sign off unless Xion says anything else.]