2017-03-05: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
- Log: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
- Cast: Kahm Yugh, Gwen Whitlock, Deveria Seyter
- Where: Adlehyde Fairgrounds
- Date: March 5th, 2017
- Summary: In the aftermath of the failed attempt to capture Fei, Kahm recruits Deveria to track down Gwen and ask her some questions about the incident.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
So where is Gwen Whitlock, Super Courier and possible burner of taverns and brief hostage of vicious fugitives?
Why, delivering mail, of course. Sure, she probably needs to go someplace to lay low for a bit, but the festival is going on and she is in dire need of funds. "Ah, here you go," Gwen states, handing over the last (and heaviest) package of them all to a gracious vendor.
"Ah, thank you, m'am." The vendor grins and gleefully opens through the wrapping and rope with a knife, and cranks open the wooden shipping box. "Ah! We were just running out of these! Would you believe these commerative vials are selling like hotcakes? Which, I may add, we also do indeed sell if you'd like some! Take some as payment, even..."
"Aha... " Gwen apprehensively grins. "Well, ah, I'm afraid I can only accept gella right now. Y'understand, right? You didn't leave any payment at the guild, so..."
The vendor sighs grumpily. "Oh, alright. You wait here while I get some coins..." He turns away to another part of the booth, as Gwen stands there, rubbing at her right arm.
Augh, it desperately needs to be cleaned...
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
EARLIER
Captain Kahm Yugh was in his office, going over the report from one Deveria Seyter. A cup of coffee idly cools in his right hand as placid blue eyes scanned over the parts concerning the activities and monitoring of on Gwen Whitlock. Female courier, early twenties, red hair...the description did seem to match.
Kahm activated his office commlink within the next few breaths, unhurried as he spoke, "Find out what Agent Seyter's schedule is and let her know i'd like to speak with her ASAP. We're going topside to investigate a lead on the Kislev gear."
NOW
Kahm idly leaned against a post not too far away, watching Gwen's activities from a distance. He was dressed in the same clothes he'd worn during their attempt to grab Fei last week: Black cowboy hat, vest, and boots, with an additional duster coat to complete the ensemble today. Once she's alone, the man will make his way over to her as inconspicuously as he can, clearing his throat to get her attention once he is close enough.
"Excuse me, ma'am." He said, leading with an outstretched hand, "But I believe you dropped this earlier."
In his proffered hand is a small coinpurse. It is definitely not Gwen's.
<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.
For the past couple of days, Lady Ivanka von Croissant XIV has been lurking unsuspiciously around Adlehyde, chatting up adventurers, escaping barfights and generally laughing at her inferiors. This was not for nothing. It was in the name of passing some tips to a man named Kahm Yugh.
She got a call back, which surprised her somewhat.
For her part, she's dressed a little differently. Her hair's still in ringlets, of course, because that's just how she rolls, but she's elected to go for a dress that's somewhat less conspicuous. It's cut higher, for one thing, and not as frilly. It's also black with some hints of a white underlayer.
Hands clasped behind her back, she smiles neatly as she slinks along to Kahm's right, looking all the world like she must be either his wife or his girlfriend, given the knowing little smile on her face and how closely she keeps pace with him. As Kahm offers the purse up, she takes momentary stock of the woman in front of her.
She splays her right hand at her cheek and smiles a sly little smile. "Yes, you really must be more careful with these things," she murrs. "Fortunately we didn't want you to lose something like that...!"
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
With the numerous people walking about, it would be easy enough to follow Gwen. Had Gwen had a chance to study him in their last encounter, this would have been a different matter, but as it stands, Kahm's general outline of black clothing, which would have poked at Gwen's memory, is easily defeated by the addition of a duster coat to break up his profile. The addition of Deveria at his side, who is a face that Gwen did not get a chance to notice beyond a passing glance at the Threatening Goats Tavern, escapes the courier's notice as well.
Plus, there's just the fact that Gwen doesn't act likea woman on the run. A little hesitant, yes. Wanting money, yes. Constantly looking over her shoulder? No.
"Hm?" Finally gaining her meager pay from the vendor, Kahm manages to gain Gwen's attention. Turning her head, she moves over to the happy(?) couple, looking down at the outstretched hand.
Wrinkling her brow at the small coinpurse shown to her, Gwen shakes her head. "Not mine. Maybe you mistook me for someone else? There's a lost and found stand not too far from here." Looking up at Kahm with one ginger eyeline raised, she squints. This fellow looks... familiar. The young woman? Well, she's seen a number of women in nice ringlets. "You guys are..."
Her mouth widens in a cheery grin. "... clearly from out of town! Or maybe from one of those nicer parts of Aldehyde City."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"I thought you might be someone else, yes." Kahm said, closing his hand around the coin purse and placing it back within his jacket. "That's why I wanted to get a better look at your face first. My apologies for the deception."
If Kahm was with Deveria in the way Gwen suspected, he certainly didn't denote it with the rather perfunctory (if respectful) way he nodded towards the women in ringlets before making an introduction. "You're right to suspect we are from out of town." He said, producing a small card from his cuff, stowed there like a cheating hand at poker, "My name is Marcus Rider." His eyes flitted at Deveria again, "And this is my associate...Ivanka von Croissant XIV."
Honestly, he wasn't sure his pseudonym was an better a stab at how -Lambs- named themselves than hers was.
The small business card had a professional, minimalist embossing on it, which Gwen would see as Kahm offered it to her. "We're private investigators with the Smith & Luio Agency. If you have a moment to spare, we'd appreciate you answering some questions about your interactions with the man known as Fei; the one they're calling the village varmint." He spoke professionally and promptly, one eye peeking out from under the brim of his hat in a pause before asking, "You do know him, yes?"
<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.
Deveria could've easily been overlooked! What's one more vain, empty-headed heiress in a world of vain, empty-headed surface-dwellers, right?
It's evident enough that "Lady Ivanka" is the more emotive of the two, perhaps even the "nice" one; she smiles widely as Gwen meets the pair with that grin, touching her hand to her cheek and batting her lashes. "Yes, we are! And isn't this such a lovely town? Everything's most quaint!" She fishes out a business card of her own; mercifully, it matches Kahm's. It seems far too minimal for something produced for someone in fantastic ringlets and a lot of makeup.
The card given over, she folds her arms loosely beneath her bust and settles a little, her smile shifting to one of easy calm as she glances at Kahm, then back to Gwen. "It's certainly wonderful to meet you, yes, even under these circumstances. Blessedly this won't take too much of your valuable time," she assures with a shake of her head.
Kahm leads in with the questions. She leaves those to him because she doesn't know much about Fei beyond what she read in the reports.
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
Taking the offered business card from Deveria, Gwen looks it over and slips it into her vest. Rather fancy, that printing... Simple, yes, but embossing wasn't something she regularly saw. Paper has a good weight to it, too. Not that sort that's used for wanted posters and news reports. Croissant XIV. That's a... unique surname, alright.
"Ah, so this isn't about a missing coin purse. Haha, clever~ But yes, what'ca need?" Gwen folds her arms, nodding politely with a bob of her head at Kahm's statements. Fei. Ah, yes, whatever deity was still pissed off at her is, even now, still pissed. "It's a pleasure to meet you both, either way. I certainly do have some time to spare, though I had to ask-" Storm blue eyes look from Kahm to Deveria, then back. "Weren't you one of the guys that was there at the scene, Mr. Rider? You look familiar, I gotta say, now that I got a clear look at your face." That sounds odd to say, but not any more odd than some clients she's had to make deliveries too. His assistant could have been there as well, for all Gwen knew. Her hair's nice too...
What is it with the great hair?! GWEN IS SO JEALOUS.
... But not so jealous that she'd let it show on her face. That'd be unprofessional!
Gwen shrugs, adding a mellow wave with her left hand, as if to wave any suspicion her question may have presented. "Granted, you two were able to track me down, so I suppose that answers my question."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm nodded and continued to speak quietly, "Yes, I was there. We attempted to apprehend him with minimal spectacle, but you can see how well that went." That was a certain bite to his tone in that. Perhaps the apparent investigator was still smarting over being eluded by his target.
"We're currently evaluating a different approach, which brings us too see you today." He'll gesture with an open-palmed hand, "Now, if you don't mind, i'd appreciate it if we could relocate to somewhere a little less crowded."
They won't walk too far, as Kahm as mindful of trying to keep Gwen at least somewhat at east. There was a sideroad not far removed from the fairground proper that got significantly less foot traffic-far easier to have a quiet conversation.
"So." Kahm began, trading looks with Deveria every now and then, "You were with Fei last week. It appeared to me that he grabbed you and took you with him in his escape." As a possible hostage, Kahm thinks, but he's careful not to let his conclusions color Gwen's response, "Can you tell us what happened after that?"
<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.
Now now, the XIV just means Ivanka is the fourteenth woman in a row to be named Ivanka von Croissant.
This may be problematic in and of itself.
Less problematic is the fact that Deveria does, in fact, have great hair. She brushes a few drillcurls back with the backs of her fingers, smiling indulgently for just a moment. "I admit you were hard to not track down. One tends to notice those at the centre of the action when an entire tavern goes up in flames. But that's alright. I'm sure they'll rebuild it, once they wring the beer out of those five brothers."
She follows Kahm down the side road. Catching his eye, Deveria moves a little to one side, folding her hands behind her back. Her body language removes quite casual. "This really is much better, isn't it," she says with a polite smile and a tip of her head.
The talk of kidnapping leaves her pursing her lips in apparent sympathy, but it passes, and she listens for now, the smile waning to a more neutral, intent look. Tapping her heel lightly against the dirt underfoot, she plays her eyes over Gwen again. "Please, spare no details," she muses. "After all, you seem to be here, alright and in good spirits now. What happened?"
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Augh..." Gwen visibly winces at Deveria's mention of the poor tavern, her shoulders slouching like an older child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Ah, so you were there? Though I can't say I was at the center of all that. The people who threw the piano at me? Much closer to the center of the action, I'd say. There was also the drunk with the broom, and the person who set a table on fire..." She shudders, for effect. The brothers? Oh. Yes.
Them. ".... I'm certain those brothers have been through worse," the courier states, flatly. "It was a complete mess, and everyone stank of booze at the end."
Her ARM still stinks, in fact. A mere washing couldn't get it all out. She's going to have to carefully clean it out la-
Wait, did this pastry heir lady see that too?! That settles it. THE GUARDIANS HATE GWEN.
"... Yeah, sure, lead the way, Mr. Rider." Gwen seems almost relieved to be switching to another subject. Her eyes keep straying to the assisting Deveria as they move. Did she see her metal arm? Or could she just have heard rumors?
Moving to the sideground, Gwen rubs the back of her head. "Hm. Yeah," she answers Kahm thoughtfully. "He was selling sketches and paintings. I've never had a sketch done of me before, so I paid him." Gwen's eyes avert downwards. "There was a lady that I pointed out to him, since she looked really gorgeous- that's when he came towards you guys, I think." She folds her arms, angling her stance to favor one hip. "Then he grabbed my hand and ran. We didn't get too far because there was a stagecoach that got separated on account of the horse being spooked. That priest fellow managed to save us by running into Fei and knocking him into an alleyway."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"I see."
Kahm produced a notepad from his coat and began looking at some material that had already been written, as if to consult. He was not scratching in any new notes yet.
"Yes, I recall events up to that point as you describe. However, I would like to know what happened afterwards." The man's eyes looked up at Gwen with crystal blue clarity, "Did you see Fei at all after that? And, previous to the incident, did you have any contact with him before?"
The 'gorgeous woman' Gwen spoke of would likely be Lieutenant van Houten, Kahm knew, but there was no need to bring her into this matter. The less the -lambs- knew about their true numbers in the city, the better.
<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.
"Yes, but they did throw it /at/ you," Deveria says with a mild smile, as though that explains everything about the barfight. "As for the booze smell, you can fix that if you wash it with the right compounds."
. o O ( That /ginger,/ gorgeous? Ugh! -Lamb- standards of beauty! )
Outwardly, the look is vanishingly brief, before she's smiling again and maneuvering a hand to rest at her hip. "I'd also be interested to know who he's with," she says, her tone perfectly pleasant and mild. For her part she's /not/ taking notes; she's leaving it to Kahm, since it fits his businesslike approach to these sorts of things. She's more a schmoozer than a researcher. "So many in this city seem to keep the company of parties of other Drifters, after all - everyone seems to have one!"
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
"Only because I punched the barrel that was threatening to bowl me over," Gwen replies with a spark of humor in her smile. "They took it to be an insult, I suppose."
Wait, she knows a recipe?! Gwen focuses acutely on Deveria. "Oh...?"
AUGH, right, business first.
And really, it's tempting to tell them everything, at this point. The idea of a gear laying around that's able to destroy a village, even if an untrained artist-type got into the seat, is alarming. Humanity shouldn't have that lying around. That sort of technology, as Auntie Frea would have often mused, was just not for humanity to mess around with. It's a pretty reasonable statement. It's also pretty hypocritical, considering Frea was a researcher and digger herself. Gwen's own life depended on such technology.
But Gwen's heart and arm can't destroy a village. Not like that.
Yet, Elly's words to Fei spring to Gwen mind. 'They're after the Gear - the Kislev Gear, that's what this is all about.' But who is they? The Kislev government? Are these two working for the Kislev government, or some other party?
Looking between Kahm and Deveria, the courier's expression grows melancholy. "No. Never met him before, and certainly not since. He's probably hiding somewhere. He said he was going to be come a Drifter, which, I suppose makes sense. The things he did... That's gonna mark a man's soul even if he got the Guardians themselves to forgive him." A sigh blows through her lips. "Guy seems friendly enough. Probably was trying to get some money by going on some digs before all this blew up. He mentioned he hadn't eaten in a while."
"He did mention, though..." Gwen rubs her chin. "Look, I don't think the guy's really going to commit any more crimes. Sounds like he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The warrant mentioned some military equipment, yeah? Sounds like he got ahold of it at a bad moment. He sounded like he didn't have it anymore, though. Some doc guy has it. Something about lots of deserts."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
And now, Kahm /does/ begin to scribe a few new lines into that notebook, all as Gwen speaks on happened after they had failed to apprehend Fei, along with her own theories. Drifters....they often tended to explore ruins and the like. It could be potential lead to finding him if the further investigations in the city turned up nothing.
"All the same, we would like to bring him in for questioning, accident or not." Although Kahm could believe getting into the gear may have been no more than a twist of fate, the damage done to the village told it's own story.
...like a wild animal.'
Kahm's writing paused. He looked up at Gwen and said, "As the wanted notice stated, yes, there was military equipment involved. We had some ideas about that, but thank you for corroborating them with us." After a few more jotted notes, he closes the notebook and places it back from whence it came, "Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Miss Whitlock. If you do see this Fei, or if he tries to contact you, we would appreciate it if you would let us know. There is a local dropbox for information listed on the back of those cards, so you may do so anonymously." His eyes grew hard for a moment, set in his face like cut diamonds, " Whatever the case may have been in Lahan, I would strongly suggest you keep your distance from this man. No good can come of association with him, if the people of Lahan are any indication."
He looked over to Deveria, "I have no further questions, unless my associate does. Feel free to go along your business otherwise."
<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.
Deveria really wants to say that it's easy to insult surface scum, but she settles for smiling neatly back at Gwen and folding her hands, letting her continue on with her answering of the questions.
"The things he did, you say," the blonde murmurs, lowering her head ever so slightly. Blue eyes closing for a moment, she seems to turn that statement over in her head. When she opens them again, it's to give Kahm a sidelong glance. "Nevertheless, it is important for us to speak with him. For the sake of thoroughness, you understand." She makes it sound very mild and procedural, almost as if it's just business, nothing more.
Catching Kahm's look, she shakes her head, brushing back a blonde curl. "No. I have nothing more." Well, aside from flashing Gwen a relaxed smile and a nod. "I would agree with my colleague, of course. Thank you so much for bearing this little inconvenience. If it means anything, you've been very helpful."
Her lashes dip a bit, smile taking on a playful edge. "Do take care of yourself, and watch out for hurtling bar furniture."
<Pose Tracker> Gwen Whitlock has posed.
There lies the part that Gwen doesn't know. It's one thing to hear about a village being destroyed. It's another to see it. Words alone cannot convey what happened.
"Pretty understandable," Gwen says to the two of them. "It's easy for me to be sympathetic when it doesn't interfere with my job or my life. It's why I leave bounties to those more suited for such a task." Nodding to Deveria, Gwen replies, "Glad I could be of service, though I'm not sure if I helped in the long run. This case seems disastrous all around for everyone involved. Stay safe, though, I suppose... you don't need me saying that. There's things out there a lot more dangerous than nondiscriminatory bar brawls."
As Kahm looks ready to depart, the courier cranes her head. "One more thing, though, before you two go..."
"... How did you know my name?" Like a cloud passing over a green meadow, Gwen's sprightly expression grows solemn, peering at the two. "... Are you sure that this Fei guy isn't the only one I should be worried about?"
She lets a moment pass, folding her arms.
'They,' the other redhead had warned. Gwen wasn't certain if she did the correct thing in admitting freely what was said, but she also didn't see her information so specific as to warrant risking her life over. This Fei will be alright. This Elly will also, likely, be alright.
Her sober face cracks, then breaks like the sun breaking through rain as she chuckles. "Alright, alright. I want to know for business's sake. If you know my name, clearly you've been peeking into me, right? You're investigators."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"Indeed." Kahm tipped his hat forward, "We wouldn't be very good at our jobs if we didn't research properly." His lips turned in a slight smile, "Perhaps you underestimate your reputation as a courier, Miss Whitlock; It should come as no surprise what someone can learn about you by asking a few pointed questions in a saloon."
He'd shown absolutely no sign of discomfort when Gwen had tried to play hardball with them, for what it's worth. "Well then, we shall be on our way." Kahm said, "Once again, thanks for your time, and take care."
With that, the man turned about and stepped away, presumably with his compatriot.
Later, once they were well out of earshot, Kahm spoke to Deveria after a long enough period of silence. "I'm not certain we got the whole story from her." He said, his voice pensive and measured, "I think it would be wise to continue monitoring her, if it doesn't interfere too much with your other duties." In spite of what he said, she could well be planning to meet Fei again.
One way another, they would draw the noose around him.
<Pose Tracker> Deveria Seyter has posed.
Gwen's question is answered in the form of Lady Ivanka's small, cryptic smile and accompanying flutter of long dark lashes. "You don't need to worry about us at all. After all, we haven't laid a finger on you, have we?"
With a last wink, she turns to leave, flipping a few ringlets away from her cheek once again. Her walk is much more slinky and elegant than Kahm's. This probably stands to reason.
Only once they're out of earshot does she drop the act a little, narrowing her eyes and lowering her voice to a murmur. "No, I think she's altruistic," she agrees, just loud enough for him to hear. "If she thinks he did nothing wrong, she'll keep trying to protect him. I don't trust her to tell us more than a basic level of truth."
The last suggestion is met with a simple nod. "I'm going to be in Adlehyde for the next while; I'll roll it into my identification and surveillance. My cover seems to be working, at least. Nobody suspects I'm anything more than an airheaded heiress at this point."
Her lips curve into a small smile. "I'll keep my eyes open," she assures. "Let me know if you hear anything else."