Clever subject line goes here

[gadaboutdetective]

Who; OTA
What; Pupper Shenanigans, Moving Day/Anniversary, Investigations
Where; All over
When; Early to mid-April
Warnings; None as yet! I will update if they come up and add the warning to the header of the tag

( I can also do personalized starters if you want! just let me know either on Discord: WhimsicalSpook#8219 or Plurk: whimsicalspook You are also welcome to throw a starter at me if you want, I don't bite!)

A wrinkle in plans... - Open to all

A. Network Assistance Request?

[ Llewellyn wasn’t much for using the network, really. Tell-phones were something he tended to be more than a little clumsy with. It did help, though, that Enis had put his on a chain so he wouldn’t lose the darn thing so much. So there’s a light metallic rattle as he adjusted the phone and peered into the camera. ]

Er... Hello everyone. I hope you’re all... well?

[ That seemed polite, and he was trying to work up to asking for a favour. Somehow delivering news on a case was easier than this. Why was work always easier? ]

I’m just uh- looking to see if anyone would be interested in helping me out with a little project I’ve been working on. Some of you already know about it, since you mm... were around in the last world I was, as well. Pretzel’s particularly good at following scent trails, and we had thought he would be helpful in the event that people went missing back then. Seems as important here as it was there. Especially since this world has a lot more potentially confusing places to get lost, like the forest.

But! Anyway, I um... I’ve been spending the better part of the last year and a half training him in scent tracking. Rhy and I have mostly been working with items and making trails like that... But I think it would be beneficial for the little fellow to get experience looking for real people now.

Also... He’s very sociable, and because the last world we were in had very... few animals... [ Complicated in ways Llewellyn didn’t know how to explain, really. ] He doesn’t quite know what everything here is. He keeps trying to make friends with creatures that aren’t fond of dogs. [ A small amused huff. Pretzel really was as awkward as he could be sometimes. ] So if anyone has a particularly social pet that he might get along with, it might be nice for him to get to know them?

[ An awkward pause, then a nod. That was about it. ]

Uh- anyway, I’ll be going then. Thank you for your time!

[ The feed closes. ]

B. Open Log

Pretzel was a very energetic, growing wrinkle hound. It was important to get him out for walks so he didn’t get too housebound, and while the move was going to give the little guy more room to run around? It was going to be an adjustment, and Llewellyn was hoping to keep his routine as close to normal in all the excitement.

Especially since Pretzel had somehow gotten very good at slipping out without their notice to explore the city in search of friends. Neither he nor Rhy could figure out how the dog kept doing it, it was a mystery.

Llewellyn had decided it was just that the dog was rather intelligent, and he wasn’t being challenged or engaged enough. So the best answer he could come up with was to increase training and give him something a little more difficult. Challenge the clever little hound’s mind while they were out and about.

Afternoons where he wasn’t at the Gullwings office, Aerith’s garden shop, or with his husband were spent on very long walks around the market... Or running around the park with fake scent trails and dog toys as he tried to keep up with Pretzel’s training and exercise.

ooc: People could either run into them at the park (especially if you want to handwave them arranging to help with training) or bump into them around the market! Both Llewellyn and Pretzel are very awkward social!



Helping out a friend in need. - Closed to Lauri-Ell

Llewellyn adjusted his hat slightly, moving down a side street with Pretzel trotting dutifully at his heels. The detective had a somewhat concerned and definitely curious expression on his face as he took a shortcut to the forge where his friend worked.

Lauri-Ell didn’t tend to ask for assistance or favours much, in his experience. They had their weekly lessons for writing and sharing books... But this was a little different from that. She had sounded a bit frustrated and troubled, explaining that something rather important was missing...

It hadn’t taken more than a half second of thought to agree. He wasn’t fond of friends being troubled by things, especially if he could help.

So off he went with a quick note for his husband where he was going for the day in case he didn’t make it home till later in the evening, getting Pretzel’s leash on and making his way to their destination.


I know exactly what I want, and it's this life that we've created, inundated with the fated thought of you. - Closed to Rhy

This was it. This was moving day. Well... Moving week, really. They had been working for the last week or so to get their belongings moved from the red and blue building to the stonework house that was situated in a small neighborhood near the market.

But today, in particular, was special. It was moving in day. It was also, amusingly, their wedding anniversary. Which had felt rather fitting for their next step together.

There were other things, of course, that needed doing. The house was in livable conditions, but it did still need a little work here and there. Some painting needed to be done to freshen things, some small repairs here and there, and perhaps a little more cleaning where it had been vacant for so long...

But they were both rather eager lovebirds, after having been searching for the right house for a few months now. Especially since this one had been perfect, hitting most of the marks that they had agreed on for a home, which felt rather lucky.

Llewellyn had been... Well, he was up to something. Rhy would be able to tell that much as they got ready for the day. The detective had never been good at hiding things unless someone’s life depended on it (and if it was his life, then less so). So it was clear enough that he was keeping something to himself while they went over last-minute plans.

It was their wedding anniversary though, so what on earth did the man have up his sleeve today?

“So uh- we need to stop off at the shop to get the um...” He gestured at the windows lightly from where he was standing next to the closet, trying to button his shirt and get dressed for the day. “The materials you picked out for the curtains and your projects? And I have to get some paint to work in the kitchen in the next few weeks...” He tapped off the list on his finger, forgetting his task of getting dressed for a moment. “Should probably see if the carpentry shop has some of the things we commissioned finished, too. I think the note I received from the messenger said they had Pretzel’s bed and a few other things ready.” He added, piling a few more things onto the list while he tried to decide on a green waistcoat or a blue one.

Comments

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn hummed a little. It was true that there didn’t seem to be any establishments for higher learning here… Even the kids ran around freely throughout the day. At least Yuki could look forward to college when he returned to his world, but for now… Llewellyn supposed that was going to be a little more difficult. “I’ve noticed that about this place? Struck me as a bit strange, really… Even to have a small schoolhouse for the children would make sense, unless there’s a tradition to teach them from home.” But it was hard to say, and where the world was rebuilding itself? It was hard to say.

He tucked his hands in his pockets, smiling a little as he watched the kids trying to get Pretzel’s attention. He’d have to bring the hound back this way later and let them play for a bit. “But, perhaps as time passes, we may see things like schools appear?”

And the detective couldn’t help but think back to the last world, though. “At the last place I was, I believe one of the people who arrived there ended up opening a school for people to attend. Children and others seeking further educations, he was quite insistent on having people attend.”

[areasontohope]

Nodding his head at the detective's words, Yuki went on. "I thought about asking the Aspects about it. But sometimes they don't really seem to be aware, or really know what's going on. So I'm pretty sure that's just a waste of time." And somewhere in the back of his mind he kept comparing them to Akito, where there really was no such comparison that could be made.

They were so far apart in so many ways it was like doing the proverbial apples and oranges comparison.

"It really is weird."

Still, he found himself drawing hope from the detective's words. And of course that hope grew more when he found himself listening in about the last worked the detective had found himself in.

Hmmm..

"Maybe that's the way to go then. And there's a lot of unused buildings here."

[gadaboutdetective]

“Mm… Hard to say with them, really. They might be able to give you an answer, but I expect they’ll be a bit vague and encourage people to fill the needs in the city themselves to help with mm… rebuilding, as they say. They mean well, but… I think they’re about as directionless as the rest of us, without the being that was in charge before them.” Llewellyn was more of the mind that they’d been abandoned themselves and were just trying to do their best. That didn’t mean he was fine with the… complicated messes they kept making… but he had a feeling that it wasn’t intentional.

But the detective would be rather pleased to think he was at least helping Yuki to feel a little bit of hope over the situation. That maybe some of his experience with places like this might benefit others, given he was a bit out of his depth in many ways.

He smiled a little at the suggestion, “It very well could be? That’s the funny thing about the unused buildings. Many of them seem like they’d be excellent locations for something, and yet they’ve remained empty.” He gestured lightly with his free hand, considering the odd detail again. “It might be that they’re just waiting for an arrival with the intent or know-how to step forward and claim them for something.”

[areasontohope]

This was news to Yuki somehow and he was grateful for the detective's input. "Wait..there was a being before them?" That had him stop right in his tracks and it made sense in a way. If they weren't the original..gods or whatever then they were given this world and wasn't sure how it worked maybe. That would explain as Llewellyn had said their directionless assistance.

But then he kept walking because he didn't want to be left behind and he had an important task ahead of him. "Aren't all of the buildings needing repairs though?" Of course that wouldn't stop him because he had connections and that wouldn't be a problem. But paying for them might take a bit because..well then again it did depend on how much and all of that.

So as all of this processed in his head, he shook it. "Even if the repairs were done, I wonder who could be asked to see if that whole thing could even start?"

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn ducked his head slightly in a nod. “Indeed! I don’t know much about them- no one does, unfortunately- but apparently there was someone leading the aspects before all of this. But they disappeared one day… So in a way, the aspects aren’t in an entirely dissimilar boat to us. They haven’t the guidance they need on what needs to be done and they seem to be learning as they go.” Which was why all the… unpleasant mistakes made sense, even if they were quite the problem to clean up. The detective wasn’t about to say he trusted them completely, but it was hard to not feel a little something for their predicament if it was as it had been presented to him.

“They are, but it they may believe that there isn’t a reason to fix them unless someone intends to start a business or move in?” Resources wasted, or something to that effect. There didn’t seem to be any major contractors bidding to take on projects either, which struck Llewellyn as odd after he’d seen how it worked out in Toronto after the fire. So… It seemed to him that it might be possible that part of helping to ‘rebuild’ included giving purpose to places that hadn’t been fixed up yet.

The last question gets a small hum, because it was a good one… “In the last world there was a council who you had to mm… petition to request a business.” He’d been lucky someone was willing to vouch for him with the more prickly member of the council when he wanted to open his agency. “Surely there must be, uh- something similar in place here. The Gullwings weren’t a around when this all started, if I recall what you and Jagger have told me. It was founded by other arrivals. Perhaps going through the files might reveal the process of setting up the business.”

[areasontohope]

He somehow felt like someone had stuck a pin in him and deflated him. He was quiet as Llewellyn went on and became thoughtful. And finally after a few moments Yuki nodded. "I guess..when you put it that way, everything they say and do makes sense. No wonder they seem so lost." And fumbling, but he didn't want to be that unkind since he was now learning that they seemed to have been handed the reins to a world they weren't sure of either.

Yuki wouldn't say he trusted them either, but as his companion did, he too felt a little bad for them. But only just a little.

Nodding to the other's assessment on the buildings that were unfixed as of yet, because it was excellent knowledge as always. Detective Watts was a man who knew things and if he didn't know things, he certainly had a wonderful penchant for finding out the information. "Ya, that makes sense, why fix it if you don't have to." Still, there was a part of him that was bummed out about it all really.

Of course that last part had him perk up beneath the weight of the fledgling aspects and run down buildings. "I don't know who the council would be, but I'm sure there has to be something in the Gullwings history notes or something as to how Miss Yuna got the right permissions to be able to run her business." Caelan might've been a part of that as well, but that was another one he couldn't ask.

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn hummed, nodding slightly. “Precisely. I only hope one day we might find out more on the subject… I expect it might help clear things up for both them and us.” He didn’t expect that to happen anytime soon, but at least they knew some things for now. In a way, he felt like he knew more about this world than he did about the last already.

The detective was adept at finding out information, really. He was used to having to figure out a lot of things in his life on his own, and a lot of the time he could thank the experts or others he made connections with for finding out information that wasn’t as readily available. He collected the information, and it resulted in the rather messy collection of notes that followed him everywhere. Which… was frustrating for some to sort through, but eventually something useful could be found in them. He frowned a little though, “Unfortunately, that tends to be the default for many. It comes down to effort and resources. But! If anything can be said about this world, it’s that it changes rather often.”

Changes in ways no one could anticipate, maybe, but it changed.

Llewellyn glanced down at Pretzel thoughtfully as he considered who might be in charge of businesses here. “I can’t say that I know that one myself? Halcyn and Athony seem likely possibilities, given they’re in charge, but they don’t tend to make public appearances much…” It would have to be someone who was a staple of the city, a constant that was accessible to those who were brought here. He wondered if Raimon would be worth having a word with…? The man did tend to deal with everyone who arrived, and also was far more accessible than the aspects given his odd business and… odder talent for getting things no one else could. “Mm… Well, let me know what you find in the files and I’ll listen around the city to see if I hear anything on the subject.”

[areasontohope]

He nodded, as Llewellyn made perfect sense, hoping to find out more about who came before the current Aspects and what happened to them. And he went along thoughtfully, just trying to keep pace.

The stores weren't far off and he couldn't wait to be able to find a present for the Detective. However, he smiled at the detective's backwards optimism, at least in Yuki's mind. "I guess that might be true everywhere." Japan changed pretty rapidly at times, and one day things were one way and the next, the previous day turned on its head. But however it went, the detective was correct and he kept his eyes forward.

When Llewellyn spoke next, Yuki turned to look at the man as he guessed who it would be that would need to be spoken to. "Athony is..is he the guard captain?" He really didn't pay attention too much as far as who was or wasn't in charge because it didn't effect him. Now however that was going to change.

So Athony is who he'd start with. Sensei would be able to talk to him or something maybe.

Maybe.

But to the man at his side he only nodded, determined to find out. "I'll start there, it couldn't hurt, right?"

[gadaboutdetective]

“The captain?” He tilted his head slightly at that before shaking his head. “No, Athony is one of the aspects. The captain of the guard is… what was his name?” Llewellyn’s brow wrinkled lightly as he tried to remember. He didn’t really deal with the man so much as the guard liaison, Nida. The detective snapped his finger though as the name finally flitted across his mind. “Khannar! That’s it, Captain Khannar… I don’t know that he would be able to advise on businesses. That doesn’t tend to be something a guard has hands in.”

Rubbing the back of his neck lightly, he glanced at Yuki. “I think if you were to go to approach someone other than the Aspects, Raimon might make more sense? Runs a business, and is in charge of greeting those of us who arrive. So he’d be more used to having dealings with us already… Even if he can’t give answers, he might be able to direct you to someone who could.” Llewellyn supposed he could be wrong. He did try to be helpful, and Yuki seemed quite keen on the idea. It would be nice to help encourage it.

He smiled as he looked ahead at the shops curiously. There was something so familiar to their setup, a bit nostalgic and comfortable. “I’ve heard it said that it never hurts to try, so I expect you’re right. All good things are worth the effort it takes to get it figured out.”

[areasontohope]

"Oh.." Yuki replied, feeling his face turn slightly red as he was gently corrected. "Well I guess I'll just start asking people then." It wouldn't hurt him to ask around, maybe Jagger might know who to talk to or maybe one of the clients that would come in would know. He nodded after a moment. "Ya I guess the captain would have no idea." It made sense in his mind anyway.

Glancing at the detective, Yuki's head went to the side. "Raimon..the one who gave us our satchels and phones.." The thought tumbled around in his head for a few minutes before deciding that was a good avenue to pursue. "I'll ask him then because it would make sense that he had to ask someone if he could establish his business here." Unless he was considered to be one of the 'locals'.

Looking at the shops, he listened to what was said and he smiled. Yes, Llewellyn meant the shops, but the philosophy behind what he was hearing was one that he would use later on when dealing with Jacob. Moving that smile to the detective, Yuki couldn't help but agree. "You're right, I'll get it figured out. But for now let's get you a housewarming gift."

And that's when he heard Pretzel barking and wagging his tail. "I think he agrees with us too."

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn shrugged slightly, “Honestly, it’s hard to keep track of their names when we spend so little time interacting with them.” He commented, noting the slight embarrassment on his friend’s face. Even he hadn’t remembered the Captain’s name off the top of his head, he’d had to dig through his mind a little for it. For such important people, they truly didn’t spend much time talking to them. “That’s the spirit, Yuki! Eventually, the right stone will be turned and the answer will present itself.” He added when the younger man said he would try to ask around.

“Yes, and given he seems to be entrusted with such a task instead of several random people…? I expect he could be rather knowledgeable, at least. I don’t know how he finds the things he finds in his shop, but it definitely suggests a well-connected person.” So there were at least a few options for Yuki to look into, and Llewellyn would undoubtedly keep a sharp lookout for anything that might be helpful.

And Jagger undoubtedly had plenty of files and organized information on the business’s founding that were stored away for safekeeping. Important things to ensure the business would continue to be accepted in the city.

It was hard to not chuckle at Pretzel’s excited reaction to the word ‘gift.’ “Mm… You both are quite right, of course- though I expect his idea of a gift is more in the realm of treats over household goods.” He responded with a smile, before gesturing to Yuki to lead the way on their ‘hunt for a housewarming gift.’