The Search for Q/The Detective's Unyielding Resolve

[thisclinchesit]

This takes place shortly after this comm post. Info for what this post is for is here.

--

Those who saw Shoutarou when he was on the hunt before for Wakka's ball might note a somewhat similar look in his eyes this time - but a great deal more focused. He's out for information, and is once again combing the ship, but there's a greater urgency in his actions and his words.

In fact, he's skipping introductions for the most part. If he sees you're not too busy, he'll all but grab you - "If you're free, I'd like to ask you some questions."

Comments

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Because I totally want to spend my free time doing Q&A," Howard mutters when Shoutarou approaches him. He's been working on building a cat carrier out in his front yards from a basket and twine. "You got a topic of conversation or are you just lonely and want company?"

[thisclinchesit]

"Well, this round of Twenty Questions has a purpose, yeah - I need to know if you've seen anyone doing anything...out of the ordinary." A pause. "At least, out of the ordinary compared to the norm on this ship."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Oh, so you want to know if I saw anything especially suspicious on this ship besides the Daligig, the secret agendas, the ship computer using weasel words and giving us faulty intel on missions, and the strange parts of the Med Bay that look like they'd been hit with a mini-missile." He pulls a small screwdriver out of his toolkit and chews on the end of it - flathead. "I mean, you got any idea how many dark and mysterious tragic pasts people are hiding on here?"

[thisclinchesit]

There's a brief moment while Shoutarou considers that list. Not what he's looking for, but he notes that if he needs to find something out like this in the future, this guy might be a good start.

"...more along the lines of people acting odd. Or being places that they shouldn't. Using strange tech." A pause. "Though that would probably fall under the 'secret agendas' category."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Not a bad idea, given Howard's propensity to keep an ear to the ground and hear all the gossip first. Howard's backpack is so big because it's full of secrets! Also a cat. Which can be heard occasionally yowling in displeasure.

Howard curls his hand up under his chin while he thinks about that. He doesn't know Shoutarou well at all, so he wouldn't give up any information on the people he considers friends or even just general acquaintances. But a few events have stuck out to him. "If I rat on a cop, would you believe me?"

[thisclinchesit]

One of those yowls gets a curious lean and look in that direction, but Shoutarou's attention soon rests back on Howard. The question does nothing to improve his mood, but he nods. "Not something I'd like, but I'll take what I can get."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Hey, that's cool. Just making sure you're not gonna go all racist on me. Or that I'm not talking bad about your boss." He leans in close. "You know Zam Tolen?"

[thewunderkind]

What luck! Lash was on her way to talk with Punchy after talking on the comm post, when she passes by him, looking perhaps just as determined as he is.

[thisclinchesit]

"Oi, Lash - you saw all that." Why yes, Shoutarou was creeping all over the other subthreads, why do you ask? "You know of anyone who'd know about that tech Querl was on about? The flatspace stuff."

[thewunderkind]

"I didn't quite get that either," she replied, long enough to talk with him. Why yes, Lash had been doing the same thing once she realized who he was. "It's some sort of subspace, right?"

[thisclinchesit]

"I... Guess? If that matches his description of it." He shakes his head. "I'm not much of a tech-head."

[thewunderkind]

"The big problem is that I haven't seen anyone use this except--"

...wait.

[thewunderkind]

"--Gimme a minute."

And lo did she send a message off to one(1) Overlord with the following information;

Hey Zetta

1- Do you know that flatspace is, and if so if you were an evil mastermind trying to take over the ship, where would you put it. Cause we have one and they could be any person...tell you what answer these too;

2- Are you normally green.

3- Are you normally female.

(THE LAST TWO ARE IMPORTANT)

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"Uh, sure? What's up?" Jr. blinked, but he caught onto the emotion in Shoutarou's voice and expression easily enough. He just hoped nothing really bad was up...

[thisclinchesit]

"Have you noticed any... Unusual activity by any of the people on the ship?" A vague question, but for the time being, Shou had no especially narrowing leads.

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"Unusual?"

He tapped a finger to his chin, trying to recall if anything he'd seen lately gave him pause or a second glance. "I don't think so. Any kind of behavior in specific? 'Unusual' is a little general to go by."

[thisclinchesit]

"People acting odd. Going odd places, seeming like they're hiding something."

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"Hmm. I haven't seen anything really weird," he said, though he still strained his mind to try and recall anything, just in case. "Why? Is something going on?" Maybe getting a better idea of why someone would be acting strange would help.

[thisclinchesit]

"If you've been looking at the comms lately, I'm looking into the situation with the fellow being held somewhere on-ship and his friend. Looking for leads on who might be holding them."

[so-pregnable.livejournal.com]

"Sure thing. What's up?"

Whatever this was about, it seemed important to the guy.

[thisclinchesit]

"Don't suppose you've seen anyone acting odd lately? Going odd places, or being generally suspicious?" He puts his hands in his coat pocket, looking a bit expectant.

[so-pregnable.livejournal.com]

"That kinda describes like half the ship, pal. Need to narrow it down a little. Mostly it's just been the usual amount of unusual, y'know?"

[thisclinchesit]

"Ah, right, right," The detective sighs, scratching the back of his head. "Did this song and dance enough, I'd think I'd have gotten better by now. Anyway..." He looks up at the ship in general. "People being in places you don't think they should be. Acting shady. If you've been looking at the comms lately, I'm looking for leads on who's holding our mysterious friend."

[so-pregnable.livejournal.com]

"Brainy." Kon immediately went into concern mode. "He was a team-mate of mine for a bit, when I was stuck in the future. I was part of the Legion for a while. I've been keeping a look out--even--"

Kon leaned in and said quietly, "Even checking people out with X-Ray vision, that kind of thing. But ssh, don't tell anyone, or they might flip their shit over privacy. To see if there are any disguises? But whatever holo-disguise she's using is good. Really good. I've heard Coluan heartbeats before--they sound different from a human's. And I haven't heard anyone that looked human or some other species but sounded Coluan. Whatever disguise she's got, it's that good."

Which gave Shou some information in its own right.

[thisclinchesit]

Normally, Shou would baffle a bit at time travel, but given the situation of the ship at large, it's not such an odd thing.

He can't help but smirk at the idea of x-raying people, and waves a hand dismissively before answering just as quietly. "Not something I'd condone generally, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Lives are legitimately at stake here, so I never heard a thing."

However, he frowned once he took notes.

"And while I'm asking - I don't suppose you're familiar with 'flatspace' technology?"