aterat | Network Video - PSA from the Gullwings Investigation

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Network Video - PSA from the Gullwings Investigation

[Llewellyn looks quite serious when the feed opens. It’s an expression he has worn a little less often of late, but there were things going on now that were getting more and more concerning. The gullwings had just finished their investigation on the matter, but this was not something they could resolve themselves. The city was going to need a different sort of help than they could offer, and the average person needed to be warned.]

Hello everyone. I’m sorry to be addressing the network under such mm… unfortunate circumstances… But the Gullwings have been investigating a situation around the city for the last few days and we feel it’s important to share what we learned with everyone. Especially as we’ve found something that uh- is going to need some specialized attention in order to resolve this, hopefully before it gets worse.

[And worse is what the three gullwings were hoping to avoid…]

I’m sure by now everyone has noticed the strange plant life that’s planted through our city, and I say planted rather than spread because we’ve found evidence- tools and the like, that prove someone brought them here intentionally. [Plucking a bright green feather from the desk in front of him, he twirled it lightly in his fingers to show it off.] We found this at one of the scenes. It’s from a bird native to the southern forest, and it’s been altered to be a decorative accessory.

In trying to work out where they started from, we retraced the pattern of their planting back to the cemetery. The spread of mold and mildew seems to have gone unchecked there, quite unpleasant… But! At its heart, we discovered an alcove which lead to a portal we definitely were not made aware of before now. It leads outside, and it seems logical that it’s where the culprit has been entering from to work on their task. There are tracks leading in and out, [He shifted the phone function to display a picture they had taken of the footprints of clawed feet that went in and out. Flipping back a moment later, he continued.]

It… gets more worrying from here. [As if this wasn’t all concerning enough.] The plant pods seem to change as they grow. At first they only got a little larger, but they… track you. I know that sounds odd, but they seemed to follow our movements as though they were drawn to us as we passed them. It’s easy enough to stay out of their reach at first, but it’s unsettling. The problem is… They get bigger, like uh- a medium-sized dog big? Larger than Pretzel is now, anyway.

And the bigger they are, the greater their reach. We managed to get through, but….

[Criminy, he can’t believe he’s going to describe this next bit.]

There’s like… Ah… How do I put this? Um… A giant one? Very large. Huge, even… So much so that I’d hazard a guess that a few people could fit inside. We didn’t stay long, because it wasn’t safe and we’re not exactly equipped to deal with something of that nature. It seemed pertinent to get that information to everyone, to warn people away from the plants and to provide knowledge to those who might have more luck in dealing with them.

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[In the video behind Harry can be seen shelves scattered with various boxes, small sacks, and other miscellaneous things. When he initializes the video feed he glances off to the side with concern before looking toward the camera.]

That's great work, Watts. I wouldn't expect anything less, but it's good to know the Gullwings can get a job done.

[He frowns.]

Do you think you can find the clearing again?

[Llewellyn squinted a little at the background in Harry’s feed, distracted by all the various odds and ends with curiosity. That was new. Huh…]

Thank you, Harry. I wish we’d found something a little less… [He gestured awkwardly to indicate: Monster-plantish…] But it was a successful team effort, they’re quite excellent.

[The question gets a small, thoughtful hum.]

Yes, we should be able to find it again. It’s uh- well, the bigger the plants get, the closer you are to the main one. At least, that’s how it seemed.

[The detective was concerned, however, that if this continued unchecked, the other smaller plants would catch up and… Nope. Not a pretty mental image.]

[Ignis is having coffee when he gets the broadcast and he's not happy with what he's hearing. Why is someone bringing foreign plants to their world? And the report isn't happy of course, so he shakes his head as Llewellyn diligently gives all of the evidence that he's collected. But it's when the other states others can fit inside the huge plant that he finally sets the cup down.]

If you can give a location, I can certainly see what needs to be done regarding this plant.

[He's not liking the carnivorous implication here.]

Ah, good day, Ignis. [Llewellyn offered a polite nod. No smile today, unfortunately. He's still quite worried about all this.] We can certainly do that. The path is, um... Still quite clear, though I am concerned if these plants continue to grow unchecked that it might become less so.

[Rubbing the side of his face, a nervous tic, he continued.] And I think it would be prudent for you to get a few people together if you do. The bigger ones are quite... excitable. If the biggest is anything like them, I'd be afraid of how it reacts to being properly disturbed.

[He's listening, trying to gather more intel as Llewellyn goes on, and of course he still isn't liking the implications. But one thing at a time.]

I see.

[He could mention it to Nida, but he wasn't sure if he'd be interested in doing something along the lines of weeding.]

Well we can most certainly take care of the plants, but then there's the matter of stopping the planter at their source as well.

[And he wondered if that meant a sort of boss fight.]

I'm not actually surprised about the giant plant, Watts. Don't worry about it.

[Because, you know, that sort of thing was just his life.]

It's good to know. If I get any clients who need your expertise, I know where to send them.

[He nods.] Good. I'd like to have a look at the thing.

You're putting the rest of us to shame. [ There's a hint of teasing to her tone, though she also sounds a bit tired. ] So, someone purposely planted those plants here?

[ Aerith gives the camera a warm smile. ] I'm glad you all were smart enough to ask for help before just rushing in there. Soooome people I know would have done things in the opposite order. [ She puts a finger to her chin and hums thoughtfully. ] That all is really worrying though. Is there anything I could help with?

Mm… We’re still working on that. Beyond the footprints and the evidence they’ve left behind, we haven’t worked out an identification for this unknown individual. Only that someone decided to cause all this… We’re hoping someone sees this broadcast and recognizes the prints or the feather… A long shot, perhaps, but it’s best to explore all avenues while we keep searching.

[And Llewellyn wanted to question them, to find out why they’d decided to do all this. It was, after all, fairly ambitious to plant such things all over the city to spread this.]

The plants start out quite smallish, and as I mentioned, there were broken gardening tools found around the various locations. So between that fact, the size of the footprints and the distance from one print to the next, we could extrapolate that they’re at least of a height relative to the average person.

No, I suppose not… I often think I might be one of the few who is surprised by things like this.

[He often felt like he was living in a book George would have written… The smaller pods alone reminded him of a draft for one of the man’s novels that had been pushed aside for something else.]

I appreciate that? I do try to direct people your way if I hear they need assistance that a professional wizard can provide. [He responded with an attempt at a smile. But back to pressing matters, he nodded quickly.] Of course, the sooner someone looks at it the better… We didn’t really stick around long, so I do have concerns about what might happen when it’s actually disturbed.

[The mid-sized ones had been strange enough.]

Mm… Well! It was a team effort, and even we could use a little more help with this, I think. [He noted that tired note in her voice and had a feeling she’d been more than a little busy herself. But her question needed an answer, so he started there.] Yup. I haven’t really worked out who or why yet- well, aside from the obvious looking to cause problems for us all…

[And Llewellyn cared a lot about the who and the why… It was bothering him.]

We’re hoping perhaps someone might recognize the tracks or something of note that tied to the other details. I don’t suppose you’ve seen or heard something around?

Why do I get the distinct feeling this is another reference and possible story concerning your body guard I should be asking about? [He asked, offering an attempt at a lighter expression than he’d been wearing.] It is worrying, I’m concerned about what will happen if the growth of these bulbs isn’t curtailed… I don’t suppose you could offer some uh- expert advice on weed control?

[He does not want to envision them getting to the side of the giant one they found. There were far too many.]

Modest. I've heard that everything is easier with more help. [ Heard and promptly ignored. Old habits die hard and even back home Ivy usually preferred to just work alone. Much to the frustration of her partners and friends. Not that they could really talk, none of them were any better about teamwork and sharing loads than she was. ] The plant can be dealt with I'm sure. [ They had more than enough competent fighters here. ] The fact that someone planted it though...that's a bigger concern.

[ She paused for a second and made a few noises like she was contemplating something. ]

No, but...if the tracks aren't too old I could take a look at them. I might be able to read something from them

[ She put a finger up in the air and smiled. ] It applies to a lot of people actually. Definitely not trying to single one person that likes to go off on their own to do everything out. [ Definitely not... ]

I think there are two valid options. We could get a bathtub full of weed spray and just spray them all down. Or fire may work if it's controlled enough.

Don't worry too much about it, Watts. Sooner or later you'll come to expect it, too.

[It's spoken with a degree of sarcasm.]

If it's a giant fly trap, maybe there are just a lot of giant flies around we don't know about.

[Because that's likely.]

It is true, for all it’s easy to forget that sometimes. [He certainly had in the past, and would again at some point in the future. Not to mention his track record with keeping partners was dismal and he might’ve been a touch afraid of losing them. Having already lost three in his life between death, injury and disappearances, it was worrying. Being around the more dangerous plants had definitely kept him watching his colleague’s here closely.]

It is, it’s an ambitious job they took on, so… it makes you wonder what prompted it. [He tilted his head rather curiously at that,] Do you think you could? I don’t think they’re terribly old, though I can’t say for sure, but we only found them a day or so ago.

[of course not, not at all.

Llewellyn hummed a little, considering both options thoughtfully. As absurd as a bathtub full of weed spray was, it still was worth considering. There’s the sound of a pen on paper as he ducked his head to scribble both ideas down to present the team with.]

Perhaps if anyone around here has enough control with fire magic… But I suppose a bathtub or basin full of full of a weed spray might actually be safer, hm? Less risk to burning down things we’d rather not.

[Llewellyn stared for a moment at that, clearly the mental image was now making it’s way through his mind.]

Uh… Thank you for that thought, Harry.

[He sighed though it wasn't at the detective or the Gullwings. He was disturbed that someone would look to cause such chaos in a world that had enough for the transplanted. Why someone would do such a thing was beyond him at the moment and more than likely would be at any given moment. And the more Llewellyn went on, the more Ignis wondered who the perpetrator was.]

Gardening tools..and if they're our height, that could be anyone. That's rather vexing indeed.

Easy and necessary. [ At least in her opinion it was necessary. It was a topic she didn't particularly want to argue the benefits or risks of asking for help. Which meant she moved on pretty quickly to something she could readily contribute to. ]

If it was ambitious then it might be safe to assume it took time. Which would imply they've been working on it for a while. So whatever prompted it may built up over time. [ Was she talking to herself there? Mostly. ] I can come take a look. If there's anything in the room still I'll be able to tell pretty quickly. There's a reason the IS sends vampires to crime scenes. >[ Offer the reason, Ivy? No? A+ conversational skills. ]

Well...I can control fire pretty good. So it may be a viable option! It might be easier than getting that might weed spray together.

[Llewellyn could understand the urge to sigh, and he had several times since this had all been uncovered. It bothered him to think someone would put so many people at risk; the plants were dangerous… And got more dangerous the bigger they got. Sure, the big ones were further away right now… but the ones in the city would grow steadily. That wasn’t even counting the giant one and what it might cause.]

Quite vexing… But we are continuing to look for answers, just a matter of putting the right facts and details together…

[Or another clue. There was still hope that someone would recognize something, or they would happen upon a breakthrough themselves. He kept turning it over in his mind, and he knew the other Gullwings would be too… They were a good team, small, but excellent. The investigation had almost been like old times back in his world. The better times, of course, before things got complicated… But he was glad to be working with them.]

But we thought it best to share, especially about the plants. I’ve never seen anything like it before, not even in the last world I was in? It’s uh- new territory for me…

Certainly feels that way sometimes. [But he would point out that it wasn’t always the best idea, even if it made him a hypocrite.

But had to furrow his brow a little as Ivy began to go over the details in a tone that suggested she was talking more to herself than him… Though the offer is a welcome one.] I can send you the coordinates. It’s not hard to find what with all the plants… Uh- but what is the reason for sending vampires to crime scenes?

[Come on now, Ivy. You know the Detective is curious, and he’s blunt enough to ask even if it might’ve seemed like she left the reason out on purpose.]

[Llewellyn couldn't help but raise his brows a bit at that,]

Are you? I had no idea. Clearly, you’re a woman of many talents. And I uh- suppose it would be faster... Time is of the element, what with how big we know they can get now.

It's a lot better than thinking we're the flies.

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