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

[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)

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Hey Lash --

1 - Sounds like a place you put pancakes. Try the mess hall.

2 - What the hell.

3 - What the hell.

(ALSO: what the hell?)

[thewunderkind]

We have an evil villain on the loose who is the smartest person on the ship, did I mention they could be ANYONE including the guys?

(But not me, because they are also Querl's mom. I'm too young to be a mom.)

...but you are a book most of the time. Just want to make sure and figured you might be good with the whole evil mastermind thing, I was part of the ranks and got told what to evil mastermind but I never did the evil mastermind...ing stuff.

Anyway she's apparently torturing him and someone else and is hiding them in flatspace on the ship or whatever.

... the mess hell makes no sense...so it might actually make sense. Thanks!

[badassfreakingoverlord]

You could have said all that to begin with!

Yeah, seriously, try the mess hall. I'm not joking, it's someplace everyone goes so no one is suspicious, but no one WANTS to be there so they don't poke around, just shovel their slop and leave.

[thewunderkind]

She looked back at Shoutarou.

"Let's try the mess hall!"

[thisclinchesit]

The detective waited with folded arms, then looked at Lash a bit oddly when she piped up again. "...the mess hall?"

[thewunderkind]

She starred back just as hard.

"I have the conclusive opinion of someone who is used to being evil and overlording. As he said, 'it's someplace everyone goes so no one is suspicious, but no one WANTS to be there so they don't poke around'."

This made sense in it's illogic.

[thisclinchesit]

Shoutarou made a face as he considered this.

"That's brilliant." Then he turned to head in the direction of the mess halls. "Okay, we're wasting time, let's get going."

[thewunderkind]

"You're the one taking too much time!" she yelled back, already bolting there as fast as her legs could take her.

[thisclinchesit]

And Shou follows - might not be able to keep pace with the younger woman, but he at least kept her in-sight.

He'd kill to have brought his motorcycle on this hunt.

[thewunderkind]

Eventually they did reach the area, a bit worse for wear. Lash had turned this into a game, somehow, and as she reached it first, proudly declared herself the victor.

"Here we are! I guess...we start looking around?"

The wunderkind had never done any detective work.

[thisclinchesit]

Shoutarou, however, had paused for a moment to breathe. If he found out one thing, he's not investigating on Stacy on-foot ever again.

He nods at Lash, starting to glance over the walls, checking for things that would seem out of place. "Yeah, check around and see if anything sticks out as odd."

[thewunderkind]

"Got it!" And lo she began to look around, poking her head and touching things. "You know, I haven't come here in forever. I just go eat in the sensoriums now."

[thisclinchesit]

"Me either, though I tend to take mine back to my agency,"

He continues his investigation, but doesn't seem to be turning up anything so far...

[thewunderkind]

"This search sucks!" Lash declared a few minutes later. She wasn't known for her patience, and just looking around giving out no results was making her jittery.

[thisclinchesit]

"Don't let the frustration get to you," Shou snapped. "You lose focus, you make mistakes - you make mistakes, the client suffers for them."

A huff.

"And if they outlive their usefulness to our target, then there's no telling who'll be next."

[thewunderkind]

"Yeah yeah yeah," she huffed right back. "Hawke was always telling me about the frustration stuff." But Lash was very vocal about everything.

"Anyway if I had clients, it would be for inventions, not detective work."

[thisclinchesit]

There's a pause before he answers again. "Apologies for being short. Just stressed out about this whole thing." Querl being grumpy and snippy about him taking too long hadn't helped, either.