Forum Thread

"Hold on, I got something." Stella opens the left pocket of her trenchcoat and, without looking, rummages through it like one would through an old toy box. She stops for a second, examining Nora. "Hm, she doesn't seem to be bleeding and I won't ask her to lift her shirt. These should suffice for now."

Out, she pulls a simple piece of candy, wrapped in old-fashioned wrappers, and hands it to Nora. "Cherry flavor, I hope you can endure it." Stella then turns to Andrael, smiling a little. So there was some compassion beneath the shell of superiority after all. Hm, not quite... it was not compassion because of personal issues. Job related? Maybe to seem somewhat sympathetic to the others? She could not point it out but hey, Andrael was capable of empathy. That's good.

With a genuine smile, Stella puts the candy in Nora's hand (slightly by force) and then closes her pocket again. "Don't do such stunts again, alright? We're detectives, we aren't exactly known to charge into things head first." She crosses her arms a little, thinking and whispering to herself. "How does one go from quarterback to detective though... maybe too much Columbo...?"

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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"Ah, ah! But that's where you're wrong. You can't tell that when I want to murder people I am actually at my most 'adorable'. And don't you worry about me! I'm not an oldie yet. Have you seen these biceps?" Nora flexed one, grinning at her. "Buff as hell! No one could take me down."

That didn't mean her midsection wasn't burning right now, but hey, it wasn't like Andy had been all that specific to begin with.

Nora whistled the 'Kill Bill' tune, tapping her foot to the rhythm. She was just about done when the train pulled up and she found a candy in her hand. "Hey, that's totally awesome of you! Thanks SDC. Cherry's the best flavour out there."

She grinned at her. "Sure, sure. Promise. Now, you ready to take on our epic quest or what?"

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Niwa Atsushi

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The three of them successfully left the Agency and were already on their way to the LRT. Niwa wished they could go just a bit faster. They'd already missed the early train. The next would leave at 10, which was... hmm, how many minutes away?

He glanced at his watch and blanched.

9:58.

"Uh... I think we need to get a move on. Like, right now."

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Adrik Volkov

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Head Detective Michon had a very hard look in his eyes. "No, it's not. Both of you, run along..." He paused. "And if you meet me along the way... keep running."

Oh. Okay. Not terrifying at all. Adrik shivered, doing his best to subtly rub the goosebumps off his arms.

---

Aleksandr stared at Narcisse, his usual smirk gone, replaced with a thin, worried line. He glanced down at Adrik.

"...C'mon kid, let's get going."

He patted the teen on the back, smiling once again.

---

Iliya was already at his limit. The guy was ]not athletic.

"G-get... a move on..? are we... late?"

His words were cut up with gasps and struggling for air.

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คภ๔гคєɭ ςครร๏ฬคгץ

~~~
קг๏Ŧเɭєг

---

Andry raised an eyebrow at Nora's declaration of murderous cuteness, her dry humor returning. "Adorable and deadly, what a combination," she remarked, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm. As Nora flexed their biceps, Andry's gaze flickered briefly to the display of strength, her expression unchanging. "Impressive," she conceded with a nonchalant nod, choosing not to engage further in the display of physical prowess.

Andry stepped onto the train, maintaining a careful distance from the ongoing banter and potential theatrics. Observing from a slight remove, she noticed Stella offering a candy to Nora, a gesture of camaraderie in the aftermath of the chase. The exchange seemed genuine, a brief respite from the usual cynicism that permeated their interactions.

However, Andry's suspicion persisted beneath the surface. Nora's energetic facade and overt attempts to downplay any discomfort hinted at a deliberate masking of vulnerability. The flexing of biceps and the whistling served as diversionary tactics, a calculated effort to shift the focus away from any potential injury. So they were hurt. And lying. Andry was a profiler... she understood how people worked.

As the train doors closed and the journey commenced, Andry settled into her seat, her thoughts returning to the familiar realm of introspection. The pattern was all too familiar—whenever she extended a metaphorical hand to assist, it was met with a metaphorical burn. The desire to help, to connect on a more human level, had been a vulnerability she learned to conceal over the years.

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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It was odd, almost. The look on Andreal's face. Hurt, almost? Had it been something Nora said... or something they didn't say?

She's a profiler, Nora reminded herself. It was foolhardy to underestimate her, just because of her naive, young disposition. Even if the girl was putting on a tough act, that didn't make her incompetent.

Rather it made her all the more dangerous. Uncomplicated people tended to react more violently. Simple people were volatile people.

Assuming Nora had read her right, of course. Femi hadn't been particularly good at reading people either, so whatever he had in that department wouldn't be helping her too much now. Besides, Andy really was so cute! This trip would be fun- she couldn't wait to see how far she could take this. Those disgruntled expressions couldn't be the full range of Andy's anger, surely?

Just keep playing, she decided. Have fun with her! Who knows, maybe we'll become friends!

Nora's seat was very cushy. She made some nice comments about "wow this feels so good on my butt" and "i'll get my future throne made out of this", but the boredom set in pretty quickly.

The car was quiet- the only other passenger was an older woman that was fast asleep.

Geez, this really might take a while, huh?

Leaning forward with a smile and clasped hands, Nora started in on her new game, "Hey, maybe we should share a bit about ourselves, y'know? Bond a bit! "

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Adrik Volkov

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Adrik considered protesting, but he figured "kid" was better than whatever else Aleksandr had brewing in that strange space between his ears. Probably the best nickname he could get, in all honesty, and he wasn't sure he wanted to be called plain old "Adrik" by him. That'd just be wrong.

"Okay," he concluded. "We'll go."

"Good. Please be quick about it too." Head Detective Michon spun around and moved down the hallway with frightening speed; vanishing through the doorway leading into the Investigative Department.

Uneasiness wormed its way through his stomach. "Well..." He cleared his throat. "Any idea where we might find an exit?"

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Niwa Atsushi

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Seriously? Why was this kid-

Okay. Okay. This was a problem that was still solveable. Even though Niwa was wondering- with a touch of guilt- how this kid got to the Agency in the first place. It was a mean thought, he felt bad, but seriously- weren't there any physicals these days?

"Late- um... No! We're not late. Not at all. I've just timed it so we can have breakfast some place. Until our totally planned train for..." he checked the list for the next train. "3PM?"

---

"On the first floor. That's where most exits are placed, 'less you wanna jump out a window."

Aleksandr quipped cheerfully, that uneasy frown from earlier gone, replaced with his usual smile.

He hummed quietly, as he walked the opposite direction Narcisse had gone, hands in his pockets.

"This should be fun! Whadd'ya think, kiddo?"

---

"A-ah... So we are late..."

Iliya was looking down at his feet now, one hand gripping the straps of his camera.

"...gosh shocking darn it..."

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คภ๔гคєɭ ςครร๏ฬคгץ

~~~
קг๏Ŧเɭєг

---

Andry's expression remained inscrutable as Nora suggested sharing personal information, a notion that seemed to flutter on the edges of her comfort zone. The idea of baring her own history, of unraveling the tightly wound threads of her past, was met with a silent resistance. Personal revelations were vulnerabilities, and Andry guarded hers with practiced diligence.

The young profiler reclined in her seat, casting a fleeting glance at Nora before offering a measured response. "Not much to share, really," she began, her tone neutral. "Grew up with just my mother, navigating the world as best we could. Took advantage of the AIs, turned a basic profit from unsuspecting humans. Orphaned after a while." It was a narrative hinted at but not fully unveiled. There was an unspoken history lingering beneath the surface, a tale that Andry chose not to disclose in its entirety. The rhythm of her words held a detached cadence, a reflection of the emotional distance she maintained.

"After some time, I was adopted. Grew up unconventionally, made my way here," she continued, brushing against the surface of her past without delving too deeply. The word 'adopted' carried a strange emphasis, an inflection that hinted at complexities left unspoken. Andry did not elaborate, allowing the brief recounting to hang in the air like a veiled mystery.

The train's rhythmic motion hummed in the background as Andry subtly shifted the focus back to Nora. The old woman stirred slightly. "That's my quota for personal information for the day. Your turn, Mawer," she prompted, her gaze steady. The inquiry was delivered with an air of detached curiosity, a desire to redirect the conversation away from her own history. Andry's reluctance to unveil more about herself stood as a silent challenge, an unspoken dare for Nora to reveal more of her own narrative.

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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Ah, now that was interesting! For the first time, Nora got the sense this was something Andy genuinely cared about. Rather than a practiced distance, this was a deliberate attempt to keep some big secret close to her chest. The mystery itched at Nora. Profilers were few and far between- getting some insight might be real interesting!

But of course she had to share her own history first. Quid pro quo and all that. It really was only fair and it wasn't like Nora had anything to hide after all.

Probably.

"Grew up in the suburbs of the very city they're shipping us off to!" She chirped. "Did a lot of sports, some shopping... knew pretty much everyone in the neighbourhood. Got a rugby scholarship and came down here. Dropped the whole thing after year one and experimented around a bit. Found I liked detective work and I had no problem with the blood and little bone bits, so I stayed on. Was more interesting than college, that's for sure."

She grinned toothily.

"Got the Atsushi scholarship, actually. Kinda ironic I ended up ditching it for this sh*tshow, huh?'

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Adrik Volkov

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"Idiot..." Adrik muttered under his breath, hurrying his pace. "Come on. I don't want to be trapped in here when they inevitably shut the doors. We don't have time to sit around."

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Niwa Atsushi

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Niwa came to a stop. "It's not your fault, you know. You were there on time. It was me who was late- I got caught up with other stuff. I came early to the office and all, but-" He shook his head. "Come on. We might not be able to catch this bus, but we can still be productive. Maybe we'll find some nice coffee place downtown, set up our work there and get started on the research aspect. It's always good to be prepared, right?"

---

"I don't think either of us are sitting, lil' bud. See?"

He gestured towards himself. He was very clearly standing, not sitting around. His smile feigned innocence.

"Yeah, we should get going, though."

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"Research... I can do research! I'm... pretty good at that. I think."

Iliya was nervously fidgeting with his hands, just looking down at his sneakers.

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Niwa Atsushi

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"Of course you're good at it," he assured him. "And even if you aren't, you have me! Niwa Atsushi, your hero of paperwork."

He laughed, a little awkwardly. "I'm in charge of the desk a lot. If anyone could save you there... it'd be me. So don't worry, okay?"

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Adrik Volkov

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"It's a figure of speech," Adrik seethes through his teeth. God, this man did his very best to get on Adrik's nerves. He swore it was intentional- and you could mark that on his tombstone. Aleksandr is a jerkwad who tormented me into whatever health problem inevitably killed me.

Okay maybe he needed sleep. That was a weird train of thought.

They left the Agency and continued down the road. "I hope our other partner shows up soon... though I'm not really expecting much, to be honest." He sighed. "Any idea where we can wait for them?"

---

คภ๔гคєɭ ςครร๏ฬคгץ

~~~
קг๏Ŧเɭєг

---

Andry listened to Nora's lively account with an air of detached interest, her expression betraying little emotion. As Nora shared snippets of her suburban upbringing, sports endeavors, and the unexpected turn towards detective work, Andry nodded politely in acknowledgment. The revelation of the Atsushi scholarship prompted a faint quirk of Andry's eyebrow, a subtle acknowledgment of the irony presented.

"Interesting journey you've had," Andry remarked, her voice cool and measured. "Leaving behind one's destined path for the unpredictability of detective work." She met Nora's toothy grin with a reserved nod, her analytical mind already at work, sifting through the layers of information presented.

Andry's gaze momentarily shifted away, her eyes unfocused as if she were lost in introspection. The enigma of her own past lingered like a silent specter, and while she maintained a facade of stoicism, the internal gears turned with calculated precision. The revelations Nora offered were processed with a discerning eye, extracting not just the words but the nuances between them.

"I can relate to that. There is no world where I'm supposed to be here." In the brief pause that followed, Andry's composed exterior concealed a subtle probing. She examined Nora with a renewed focus, as if searching for the underlying currents that shaped her narrative. The profiler in Andry reveled in these moments, extracting meaning from the tapestry of words laid before her. Her response was measured, revealing little of the intricate calculations transpiring within her mind.

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"O-oh... okay! alright!"

Iliya straightened his back, smiling nervously.

"L-let's do this...?"

---

"Why, don't wanna be left alone with big bad Aleksandr for too long?"

The 29 year old just laughed, patting Adrik on the back.

---

"Listening to the origins of you two makes me long for my books back home." Stella said, chuckling a little. It wasn't meant as an insult, her soft smile was proof of that. "You should not exclude yourselves from the spotlight like that you two."

She moves her head a little, an audible crack from her neck coming out before she gave out a little sigh. "You both came here by choice, right? It wasn't the only job on the blackboard that responded to you, you know? And I doubt Michon has a weird thing where he'd hire a profiler with a troubled past and the brawling detective because he wants to sabotage his own business. I'm sure he sees potential and competence in you." Her smile lifts a little, as she takes a different candy from her wrapper and eats it herself, offering a third piece to Andrael. It had the logo of a raspberry on it.

"But, no, it's not weird that you dropped such a prestigious scholarship for this job. Interests don't always align and the capability of admitting that to oneself is, much like Cassowary's rise from the depths of financial adversity and unfortunate shift of parental controls, a feat of great strength."

Stella sighs, that was quite a mouthful. Seems she just got carried by the moment... she takes out a bottle of water from her purse and drinks from it for a solid five seconds, letting them process her words.

---

Sylina Chrona

Sylina Chroma was rushing out of the house, she had to drop her daughter to "Human Daycare". It was quite ironic as Android Caretakers owned the place. She glided to work using a Hover-ball, a big floating seat covered in a big bubble. Sylina was busy the other day and couldn't go to the Orientation.

"The orientation is probably the same as usual," Sylina thought, parking her Hover-ball.

Sylina entered the huge Clockwork Detective Agency. She looked around.

"How strange, not many interns this year,"

She unlocked her office and saw it exactly the same as before. White, dull, and extremely clean. She saw her floating screen on top of the desk. She sat down and turned it on, it instantly turned on. The screen had a face.

The screen scanned Sylina's face and it unlocked to a home screen. "Good Morning Ms. Sylina Chrona," The screen said. Sylina smiled, this was 2070's Technology!

She tapped some letters on an invisible keyboard and opened her CDA mail. She clicked the "Assigned cases" message.

"Hmm, I wonder what case now.."

---

Buraddo

Jemu shifted uncomfortably in their seat. Their nails pressed into their palms as they tried to come up with something.

"My turn, I assume?"

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Jace Mawer (Nora)

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Ah, Andy, as enigmatic as ever. How delightful.

"We should exchange phone numbers." Nora giggled and tilted her head to the side. "Y'need to relax, you know? Gimme your number, I'll invite you drinking some night. Can hang out with the gang."

She leaned across the table, resting her chin on her hands, grinning up at them. "I think you'd be really fun. After you got out of your weird zone."

Her eyes fluttered shut, and she listened to the sounds of the train around her. The vibrations travelled up their toes and to their head. Dizzy and giddy, they laughed, letting their cheek fall onto the polished wood table. It was warm and the surface trembled beneath their face. It seemed to vibrate in sync with Stella's words.

"Potential and competence..." The words tasted weird on her tongue. They sounded like old words. That of a society that didn't exist anymore, that shouldn't exist anymore. Like Femi and his stupid ideals, almost. It rubbed her the wrong way. "You really can't read the mood, SDC."

She punctuated it with a laugh, but she didn't think it was very funny.

Finally, the fourth member of their party spoke up. She opened her eyes and turned to face them. "Hey, why not? Can't be much worse than my 'giving-up-every-opportunity-I-ever-had-for-some-Detective-dream'... or whatever. I wasn't really paying attention."

"Kidding," she stage-whispered at Stella, with a wink.

---

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Niwa Atsushi

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"Alright... I guess it's time to find some breakfast place."

Niwa had no idea where to start. He wasn't really a breakfast person and despite being a resident for the past four years, he still didn't really know his way around Trydanfaid. "Any... ideas? It's okay if you don't know. We could just walk around for a bit... feed the ducks. Hit a bakery, maybe."

Wow, that's a great way to spend your working hours. Killing the local fowl! He'd read an article on ducks and bread. It was very insightful, but also a major guilt trip for him. He and his sister had spent hours doing just that.

He winced and tried to stifle the thought. She didn't matter. None of it mattered.

"Well..." He cleared his throat. "Either way, it'll be fine. We just need to find a place to sit down and relax. A cafe works too and there'll definitely be a coffee shop or two downtown."

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Adrik Volkov

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"Get over yourself." Adrik snorted, swatting his hand away. "No one actually cares, Aleks."

He shot him a glare and turned away, choosing to study the case file rather than his incredibly immature, stupid supervisor. Apparently it was some small time thievery thing. Nothing too bad... just disabled cameras. And a few thousand bucks missing.

He had to reread that. What the hell were bucks?

---

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Andreja Buivis

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"Looks like we're on the same case, old man." She laughed. "Oh come on now, don't make that face~ We should start over. Reintroduce ourselves, you know?"

She tilted her head to the side, flashing him a grin. "I'm Andreja Buivis." Determined not to let him get away, she snatched up his hand and shook it vigorously. "Investigative Assistant of the Clockwork Detective Agency! Pleased to make your acquaintance, Laurence Wart-on."

---

Aleksandr's smile dropped for a moment, but it didn't deter him. he just got a tad quieter.

"he peered over Adrik's shoulder, reading the file.

'A few thousand buckaroonies! Well, gosh! That's a lot!"

---

"U-uhm... I kinda... got here yesterday..."

Iliya muttered quietly.

"I'm sorry, I-I- don't really... know anyone... or a-any places... around here..."

---

♟Laurence Walton's POV📖

"Looks like we're on the same case, old man."

Laurence narrowed his eyes, delivering his response through gritted teeth. "It seems we are."

"Oh come on now, don't make that face~ We should start over. Reintroduce ourselves, you know?"

He stiffened. "Alright. I fail to see the point in that, but fine."

"I'm Andreja Buivis. Investigative Assistant of the Clockwork Detective Agency! Pleased to make your acquaintance, Laurence Wart-on."

"It's Walton. If you wish to be civilized for the duration of our working together, would you please give me my hat back?"

And apologize for the mayhem you probably caused to several people in this facility, was something else he wanted to add. But he got the feeling she'd refuse.

Maybe if I do well enough on this, they'll let me work away from her soon enough. ...I hope.
(I'll add in my other character POVs later)

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คภ๔гคєɭ ςครร๏ฬคгץ

~~~
קг๏Ŧเɭєг

---

Andry maintained a composed silence, her expression revealing nothing as Nora extended the invitation for a future get-together. The idea of relaxing in the company of colleagues seemed foreign to Andry, who often kept a careful distance from personal entanglements. Yet, beneath the cool exterior, a subtle curiosity lingered. Nora's persistence in trying to pull Andry from her calculated reserve intrigued the profiler, and the offer of camaraderie in the form of a casual drink stirred a cautious interest.

Nora's playful demeanor, punctuated by laughter and cheeky winks, seemed to resonate with the vibrations of the train. The rhythmic hum of the journey blurred the edges of Andry's perceptions, creating a surreal backdrop to the unfolding interactions. As Nora continued her banter with Stella, Andry weighed the implications of accepting such an invitation.

She contemplated the potential benefits and risks, her mind operating like a finely tuned machine, evaluating the social dynamics at play. The prospect of stepping outside her comfort zone was met with a measured response. After a prolonged silence that felt like an eternity in the context of their conversation, Andry leaned back, her expression shifting to a more contemplative demeanor. Alcohol... it did things to people. She knew that intimately, despising the change.

"Someday, perhaps, Mawer. It's not exactly my... scene," she finally conceded, the words escaping with a hint of reservation. The idea of socializing outside the rigid framework of work was a calculated risk, one that Andry approached with caution. Her attention turned to Buraddo, curious to see what the head detective would add in response to Nora's question. They were the real enigma.

---

Andrea A Kaminsky’s POV
With nothing to do, Andrea headed back home. They wouldn’t need her yet. And honestly? What good were forensic analysts in a world full of androids? Like hell there were going to be any blood samples from them. What a waste of talent. Or not. With an exaggerated sigh, she headed for her bedroom. Despite the clear differences in wealth between humans and androids, Andrea was, what you’d call ‘upper-class’. Thanks to her various aunts and uncles, as well as her natural beauty and vixen-like nature, Andrea had managed to accumulate a fair sum of money under her name. Perhaps Andrea was narcissistic, but she had good reason to be. With such dashing looks that could sway both men and women, she had now, over six husbands, all of which fawned over her, showering her with whatever they could spare. Those who saw past her sweet, loving exterior would compare her to a kitsune. But if you asked Andrea? Well, she had been blessed with good looks, and she’d damn well use it. Heading to her bedroom, she took out an easel and began painting. The half-complete portrait looked frighteningly like Cassidy, and she hummed quietly to herself as she worked, as if projecting the young girl’s bright smile from her mind, directly onto the canvas