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['Sup, Nero, Kim's just wandered into the cafe to see what's what. He's wearing a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, and his face is covered in bruises. A bandicoot sits perched on his shoulder. He sees Nero going through the ingredients, and stops to observe.]
Anything good in there?
Anything good in there?
[There's a black snake lightly coiled around Nero's shoulders. He's also changed into pants and a long sleeved shirt at some point, so he doesn't look like a sexy nun anymore.]
Looks like we got some eggs. The tomatoes here are way smaller than I'm used to.
[He pulls out a completely normally sized tomato.]
Looks like we got some eggs. The tomatoes here are way smaller than I'm used to.
[He pulls out a completely normally sized tomato.]
Good. That's good. [That is indeed a normal-ass tomato. But it's fine.]
Most of the food I've found so far has been left to rot. I was starting to worry about our options.
Most of the food I've found so far has been left to rot. I was starting to worry about our options.
[He looks visibly pained by the reminder.]
I saw that too. Wonder what made people just leave it out instead of takin' it with them.
There's some food, but it probably needs to be rationed. Unless we get more access later.
I saw that too. Wonder what made people just leave it out instead of takin' it with them.
There's some food, but it probably needs to be rationed. Unless we get more access later.
Something very urgent, I assume. [But beyond that assumption, Kim has no more information than anyone else does.]
I'll keep an eye out for any well-preserved foods while investigating the city. We may all be strangers, but we would do well to pool our resources where we can.
I'll keep an eye out for any well-preserved foods while investigating the city. We may all be strangers, but we would do well to pool our resources where we can.
Why would they leave so many kids behind if it was somethin' like that?
[There's a slight edge of worry there...]
Right. If you find any flour, I can make that into bread. Who knows how long we'll be here.
[There's a slight edge of worry there...]
Right. If you find any flour, I can make that into bread. Who knows how long we'll be here.
[He thinks about that, and frowns. There's probably no good answer to that question.]
... You're experienced with cooking, I take it? I'm afraid I'm not especially good at it.
... You're experienced with cooking, I take it? I'm afraid I'm not especially good at it.
[It's not the kind of question he wants to ask...]
Yeah, I'm a professional chef. If ya need anythin', feel free to come by and let me know.
Yeah, I'm a professional chef. If ya need anythin', feel free to come by and let me know.
Seems like a useful skill to have. I'll keep that in mind, er...
[A pause, and a meaningful look. Your name...?]
[A pause, and a meaningful look. Your name...?]
I'm Nero.
[ A gesture that gets across "and you?" ]
[ A gesture that gets across "and you?" ]
Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi. I'm a police detective.
Is that the same as the consulting version?
No.
[That answer comes very quickly.]
A consulting detective is privately hired, usually by companies looking for dirt on a competitor, or by paranoid spouses looking for evidence of infidelity.
Police detectives investigate all serious crimes that happen under our jurisdiction. We don't get to choose the most profitable or the most glamourous cases -- we do what needs to be done, no matter how difficult or unpleasant.
[That answer comes very quickly.]
A consulting detective is privately hired, usually by companies looking for dirt on a competitor, or by paranoid spouses looking for evidence of infidelity.
Police detectives investigate all serious crimes that happen under our jurisdiction. We don't get to choose the most profitable or the most glamourous cases -- we do what needs to be done, no matter how difficult or unpleasant.
Huh. I don't have either kind where I'm from. Thanks for the run down.
Met the blond consulting one... he was a lot. [Entirely too much for his introverted self.]
Met the blond consulting one... he was a lot. [Entirely too much for his introverted self.]
Mr Sholmes, I assume. I am also acquainted with him.
[Kim is tactfully avoiding giving a more specific opinion.]
If this situation continues, I expect we'll be seeing a lot more of him.
[Words of warning. A lot of "a lot" is a goddamn lot. Mathematically speaking.]
[Kim is tactfully avoiding giving a more specific opinion.]
If this situation continues, I expect we'll be seeing a lot more of him.
[Words of warning. A lot of "a lot" is a goddamn lot. Mathematically speaking.]
[But do they have to...]
There's only so many people 'round here.
[Sigh.]
There's only so many people 'round here.
[Sigh.]
[There's a snake around his arms as he stands right in front of the hotel kitchen. It's a complete mess and he can't even start cleaning it yet.]
... Find anythin' out there?
... Find anythin' out there?
[A skua flies in alongside Kim, perching on the back of a nearby chair. It rocks slightly under the weight of the heavy seabird before stabilizing.]
No sign of our missing person, alive or dead, I'm afraid.
No sign of our missing person, alive or dead, I'm afraid.
There's no way that's good. Don't think he vanished mysteriously back home...
I would not be that optimistic, no.
At most, I simply hope this isn't a continuation of the mysterious deaths we've observed here.
At most, I simply hope this isn't a continuation of the mysterious deaths we've observed here.
[Speed run of a jamjar, any % run.]
It's too early to rule it out for sure. ... Weird nobody's been able to find it.
It's too early to rule it out for sure. ... Weird nobody's been able to find it.
Yes... If it followed that existing pattern, I would expect to find a body somewhere outdoors. It wouldn't be particularly difficult to notice.
Fact nobody's managed to find him makes it extra weird. Didn't really know the guy well.
Neither did I, regretfully. Do you know if anyone here did?
[Shakes his head.]
Maybe his roommate? Or whoever he was in a group with on Wednesday?
Maybe his roommate? Or whoever he was in a group with on Wednesday?
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