PnP Group [DATA REDACTED] Session 21

[15:52] <~Headlong> GDRL-2 Addendum 21
[15:52] <~Headlong> "Upon further examination of all the evidence compiled... We've got nothing."
[15:55] * Redshift agrees.
[16:01] <~Headlong> Last time, Redshift lied to a witness and a newspaper reporter, Giddy tried to use a computer, and Scribbles, along with Wishing Well, drank an excellently brewed cup of coffee. Kopesh and Bonnet are helping a mourning husband find solace, while Giddy has just arrived in the hotel parking lot. The investigation cotinues!
[16:01] * Redshift has nothing. He's at a loss as to what to do now.
[16:03] * Scribbles checks her notes, "Alright. I guess Wishing and I could try to talk to Neon. Maybe he'll like the press talking to him."
[16:05] * Giddy comes in, chomping on a toothpick, looking his usual fair of grumpy with a hint of narcissistic and twitchy. He takes a seat next to Redshift. "So, I think this isn't our problem. Or at least, I don't think it's going to be our problem alone."
[16:05] <~Headlong> Corn Rows wipes his eyes with a silk cloth. "So... How did you know my wife, Ms. Bonnet?"
[16:05] * Redshift rolls his eyes, glancing over at Giddy. "No kidding. This sucks."
[16:06] * Giddy leans back. "You know, usually when people get told that it's not their problem, they tend to be relieved."
[16:06] <~Headlong> Wishing nodnods. He makes a very convincing press camerabuck. As Giddy heads in, he gets a whiff of some smoke from the cigar bar.
[16:07] * Bonnet gives the stallion a soft smile, "I'd been following along with her campeign in the magazines, it really seemed like she had a solid following, and a good chance at winning."
[16:09] <~Headlong> Corn Rows nods solemnly. "Taken... taken too soon... You should have heard the way she talked about it... Always so... chipper..."
[16:09] * Scribbles looks at her friends and fellow investigators. "You guys can keep your noses clean for a while longer, right?"
[16:10] * Redshift shrugs. "Yeah, yeah, well. Kinda hard to let it go. We've already spent too much time on this."
[16:12] <~Headlong> Amidst their talking, two members of the BPD enter the lobby and head up the stairs. They're carrying actual firearms, unlike the guards posted out front.
[16:12] * Bonnet holds out her hoof, touching Row's lightly, "I know, she was a good pony."  She lets a few moments go just for him to know she's there, "For a cheerful pony, having the even in a place like this seems so natural, doesn't it."
[16:12] * Redshift glances at the officers briefly, then leans back once again.
[16:13] * Scribbles looks over at the actual police, tilting her head.
[16:13] * Kopesh sits and listens. He doesn't really know about her and there's not much of anything he can add.
[16:14] * Giddy rolls his eyes and ruffles Redshift's mane. "Oh, we're not /done/ with it." He spits his toothpick out of his mouth into a nearby bin. "The way I see it, there's two real options here. It's either that there's some weird invisible thing that can kill you without you seeing it and leave very little in terms of marks, in which case we call in, like, some invisible seeing dudes, or she had a preexisting condition."
[16:15] * Redshift looks up at Giddy with a frown as he reaches a hoof back up to his mane. "Hm. Well, there isn't exactly any point in speculating when we don't have any evidence to go off of."
[16:17] <~Headlong> Giddy and Redshift are able to pick out the last parts of the officers' conversation. "... call came from upstairs. We
[16:17] <~Headlong> "We're looking for a younger mare, or colt. They didn't...
[16:17] <~Headlong> "
[16:19] <~Headlong> Corn Rows smiles fondly at the two of them. "Thank you two, so much... It warms my heart to have strangers come to me in my time of need... And... Princesses knows... I need a lot right now."
[16:20] * Redshift blinks at that. Oh, shit. He blinks at Giddy and whispers. "Pssst. Giddy, buddy. I think I'm in trouble. Like, real trouble."
[16:22] * Giddy reaches into his coat and procures another toothpick to stick in his mouth. "What kind of trouble. 'The cops are after me for burning down a pony's house trouble or I pissed off some dude at a bar trouble." He seemed to say it more as a statement than a question.
[16:22] * Bonnet gives the softest, most reassuring smile she can, "I'm so glad we can be of any help.  You deserve some kindness, after all."
[16:23] <Kopesh> "She would want you to have some too."
[16:23] * Scribbles looks over at Giddy's words. She was about to say something along the lines of 'that sounds like you're speaking from experience', but she decides that now wasn't the best time.
[16:25] <Redshift> "Uh...the first one. Kinda." He reaches for the back of his mane, grinning sheepishly at Scribbles and Giddy. "So, uh..." He clops his hooves together nervously. "I kinda sorta tried to interrogate the DJ from earlier, and I kinda sorta tried to pass myself off as a cop and tell the press that he was a muder suspect, and it sorta backfired on me. You heard those cops, right? I'll bet you everything that I'm the o
[16:25] <Redshift> the one they're looking for." He turns to them, panicking. "And I'm not gonna lie. I have no idea what to do. Like, none."
[16:27] <~Headlong> Corn Rows takes a piece of Bonnet's chocolate. "She would have loved this..." He looks the two of them over. "Can... Can you give the press a statement? I haven't been seeing them since it happened."
[16:27] <~Headlong> "And frankly," he adds, "I don't really want to..."
[16:27] * Giddy sighs. It's interesting, he doesn't seem angry that Redshift screwed up with the police. He seems more like he knows what to do. "Alright, has anyone around here other than us seen you milling around?"
[16:29] * Redshift shakes his head. "Nope. 'Cept the DJ. Unless somepony in the hotel staff saw me that I don't know about, nopony else knows except the press. And they only heard my voice."
[16:29] * Bonnet nods sympathetically, "We'd be very happy to." She looks over at Kopesh, "Ah, do you have anything to write it down with?"
[16:31] * Kopesh pulls out a pen and a notepad.
[16:32] * Bonnet smiles softly at Kopesh and turns back to Corn Rows, giving a reassuring nod.
[16:32] <~Headlong> Corn Rows graciously accepts them. "Thank you." He says quietly, scribbling with his mouth on the pad. When he's finished, he folds the paper in half and tears it out of the book.
[16:36] * Giddy takes off his coat and places it on the colt. "Go to sleep or pretend you are. For the next few hours, you're my nephew."
[16:36] * Redshift nods at Giddy. "Thanks," he says hurriedly to the stallion, face full of gratitude as he does just that.
[16:38] * Bonnet holds out her hoof a little to take the paper when he's finished, "I'll make sure they get it."  She glances out of the corner of her eyes around the room for a moment as she pauses, "Did you two travel much?  Maybe if you took a little trip it would help you feel better..."
[16:39] <~Headlong> He nods slowly. "I will... Once I get to see her again." He says, lowering his head. "Thank you, thank you both."
[16:39] * Scribbles ([email protected]) Quit ( Ping timeout: 121 seconds )
[16:39] <~Headlong> Bananas Foster approaches Giddy, Scribbles, and Redshift. "Excuse me, did the three of you call those officers?"
[16:42] * Giddy calmly shrugs. "No."
[16:42] * Kopesh nods. "You're most welcome. It's a shame. I hope they give you closure soon."
[16:43] * Bonnet rubs Corn Row's hoof reassuringly before carefully getting to her hooves, "I hope so too.  Is there anything else we can do for you before we go?"
[16:43] <~Headlong> He shakes his head. "No, I think you two have done everything I needed. Thank you all, again."
[16:44] * Redshift continues to pretend napping.
[16:45] * Lucky_Star ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[16:45] * Kopesh stands up, taking the hint. "We're glad to have helped you. Even if just a little."
[16:45] <~Headlong> Foster nods slowly. "Ah... Well then... I should probably see  what the fuss is..." He departs for the elevators.
[16:46] * Lucky_Star is now known as Scribbles
[16:46] * Bonnet gives a polite bow, "Please try to take care of yourself, Mr. Row."
[16:47] <~Headlong> Corn Rows sees them both out, bowing politely, looking like a stallion releived.
[16:49] * Bonnet gives another bow after they leave, turning to head back to the elevator with Kopesh.  She waits until they get to the elevator door before passing the statement to him, "You want to check it first?"
[16:49] * Kopesh takes it and looks at it. "That seemed to go well."
[16:51] * Giddy watches Foster disappear into the elevator. He then picks Redshift and his jacket up, puts them on his back, and walks out the door. "Kid, how good are you with computers?"
[16:53] * Bonnet nods a little, glancing down at the paper as well, "Better than I was expecting... though I had hoped to find out if they had traveled anywhere else recently, I don't think he could have answered..."
[16:53] <~Headlong> Corn Row's statement is mostly an account of the good times he shared with his wife. However, his last paragraph proves telling. "And two the murderers of my wife... I cannot imagine what would drive ponies to do such a horrific... monstrous act. May the Princesses have mercy on all of you."
[16:53] * Redshift looks to Giddy from where he is, rolled up in a jacket. "Really good," he whispers. "Like, /really/ good. Why?"
[16:54] * Kopesh reads the last a few times. "Hmm. That can be taken several ways."
[16:54] * Bonnet blinks a little, "Murder'ers'?
[16:56] * Giddy chuckles lightly. Griffon lady was going to be happy. "I'm gonna take you to the library, and you're gonna go digging for everything the ponynet's got on her and the island we're dealing with. I'll come back to the hotel and make sure everyone else is doing fine. You okay with that plan?"
[16:59] * Redshift grins at Giddy. "Sounds awesome."
[16:59] * Bonnet taps the button to call the elevator.  Hopefully by now it was done going to all the other floors.  She keeps her voice down, pacing a little, "It really is odd he'd say it like that..."
[17:00] * Kopesh gets in with her once it opens. "Quite."
[17:01] * Scribbles ([email protected]) Quit ( Quit: Given the choice between you, I'll take the sea-sick crocodile. )
[17:01] * Someonewithapen_ ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[17:02] <~Headlong> The elevator brings Bonnet to wherever it is she'd like to go in a reasonable amount of time. Giddy drives /very/ quickly to the Library, where the Griffon librarian is trying to work on her computer.
[17:02] * Someonewithapen_ is now known as Scribbles
[17:02] * Giddy rounds the corner and looks back behind him. "Hey, lady. Told you I'd be back."
[17:03] * Scribbles had started for Neon Trees' room with Wishing Well.
[17:03] <~Headlong> The griffoness blinks a few times. "O-oh... Hello! Welcome back!"
[17:03] * Bonnet nods a little as she steps inside with him, glancing back down the hallway as she hits the button for the lobby, "Maybe he just meant her competitors... or maybe we should get one of the others to try talking to him as well?  We should wait a day or two though... so he doesn't associate it as clearly, don't you think?"
[17:04] <~Headlong> There's a thumping bassline blaring from Neon's room. The pair of police offers close his door as Scribbles and Wishing arrive.
[17:05] * Scribbles hangs back to let the officers clear out, "Huh.. Maybe a noise complaint."
[17:06] * Giddy takes his coat back. "Yo'. Gonna leave this kid here to do some homework." He cranes his neck up to see what she's working on. "Hey. Kid. Help her out."
[17:06] * Kopesh nods. "Not a bad plan. They can come back as reporters again. He didn't seem depressed enough to be warning people in general. It's specific to someone or a group."
[17:08] <~Headlong> She's working on a catalogue of the islands surrounding the Burrmuda mainland. It seems very comprehensive. She blinks a little. "Just... going to leave him here?"
[17:08] * Bonnet nods a little too, "Yeah... really odd..." she gives a soft sigh, "Or it could just be an anguished lover lashing out at his wife's competition because he doesn't have anyone else to blame... but I guess it is worth investigating further."
[17:09] * Redshift places his cap back on his head to turn to the griffon lady Giddy has pointed out, as he gestures with a hoof back to the latter. "Something about computers?"
[17:11] <Kopesh> "Very well could be. And, yes, we need to know for sure."
[17:11] <~Headlong> The officers frown a little as they pass. "A red colt in a ball cap..." One mutters. Foster comes in from the stairs and intercepts the officers, and they have a hushed conversation. They don't seem to acknowledge Scribbles or Wishing.
[17:12] * Scribbles blinks, looking at Wishing Well and waiting for the police to get out of ear shot.
[17:12] * Bonnet nods a little, contemplating as the elevator finishes the ride, opening to the lobby, where she steps out, looking for the others.
[17:13] <~Headlong> Those cops seem engrossed in their conversation with Foster, no doubt putting the pieces together. Wishing shrugs.
[17:13] <~Headlong> Bonnet sees none of her teammates.
[17:14] * Scribbles sighs. "Why do I let him on his own?" She asks herself under her breath as she starts towards Neon's door again.
[17:15] * Kopesh looks around. "Must still be talking with the others."
[17:15] * Bonnet looks around too and gives a quiet sigh and a nod, "Well, I guess we should just wait here then for now?"
[17:16] <~Headlong> The music stops for a second, long enough for an excited pony's voice to shout "What! Oh my gosh!" and immediately resumes twice as loud and twice as intense.
[17:19] * Kopesh finds a place to sit. "Yeah. Don't want to burst in on them and mess things up."
[17:20] * Scribbles flinches from the sudden blast of music before knocking on the door, loudly.
[17:21] <~Headlong> Kopesh finds many places to sit in the lobby, most of it very comfortable. The music quiets at the knocking, and the slate-gray DJ in his afternoon shades appears in front of the
[17:21] <~Headlong> ""press/
[17:21] * Bonnet nods a little and picks out a spot for herself on the available seating.
[17:21] <~Headlong> "Press."
[17:23] * Scribbles dawns a friendly smile. "Mister Neon Trees?" She asks.
[17:24] <~Headlong> The DJ looks from her face, to her press pass, to her flanks, and grins.
[17:24] * Giddy nods, then sits down at a chair. "Yeah. What? He's old enough to get on the Canternet to do some studying."
[17:25] <~Headlong> "You've got him."
[17:25] <~Headlong> The librarian frowns slightly, and turns to Redshift. "Well, what is it you need to research?"
[17:26] * Scribbles smiles still. "Oh good! We were hoping you had some time to answer some questions about Ms. Butterball." She glances back into his room. "Maybe one or two about your DJing?"
[17:28] <~Headlong> He frowns a little at the mention of his aunt's name. "Yeah, like, I've already talked to some chump about Aunty. Not really in the best of moods right now." He smirks. "But I can rap on DJing for days, man."
[17:29] * Redshift turns to the librarian with a faint smirk. "Well, first things first. I heard you have computer problems."
[17:30] * Scribbles nods. "I understand, perhaps you could just tell us what you saw? I think that'll be enough to keep the boss happy."
[17:30] <~Headlong> The librarian nods. "Well, you know how the Canternet is... But is that part of your homework?"
[17:31] * Giddy shrugs. "No rush. Kid's a whiz with computer stuff. Practically does my IT for me."
[17:31] * Redshift shrugs. "Yeah, yeah. You could say that."
[17:32] <~Headlong> Neon Trees snorts. "I saw myself laying down some dope polyrhythms. Other than that, though, I already told you, I'm not really in the mood for cops. Or reporters."
[17:34] * Scribbles looks over at Wishing Well with a shrug. "Alright then. We've got some time. Maybe talking about your.. Busniess?" She asks, making sure she's right, "Could brighten your mood?"
[17:36] <~Headlong> The librarian looks between the two of them, uneasy that she didn't really get an answer... "Uh... Sure... I'll just... go tidy up records, then..." She flaps off to some other corner of the library.
[17:37] <~Headlong> Neon looks at Wishing's Camera and spikes up his mane a little with his hoof. "I... I guess, whatever, man. Come in, take a seat."
[17:37] * Redshift shrugs as he looks around for a computer of some sort.
[17:38] * Scribbles steps inside, looking around at what Neon has around.
[17:41] <~Headlong> Dominating the room is his DJ equipment: speakers that easily dward Scribbles, records upon records stacked neatly in shelves, and dozens of banners with is cutiemark, a neono-yellow, leaveless tree. They're quite stylish.
[17:42] <~Headlong> There's a lone terminal behind the circulation desk. The gate is up, and Redshift can easily access it.
[17:43] * Redshift takes a seat and glances at Giddy with a grin before he tries to access the ponynet. Woo!
[17:44] * Giddy waits until she gets out of earshot. "She's cute, isn't she?"
[17:44] * Scribbles found herself a seat while she looked at Neon's furnishings, wondering how the hotel staff let him do this, not to mention play loud music indoors.
[17:45] <~Headlong> Wishing snaps some pictures.
[17:46] <~Headlong> "Pretty cool stuff, right?" He gestures to all of his impliment of eardrum destruction.
[17:47] * Redshift ([email protected]) Quit ( Ping timeout: 121 seconds )
[17:47] * Scribbles gives an indifferent nod. "Can't say I've seen much like it."
[17:49] <~Headlong> He rubs his chest. "Damn right."
[17:51] * Scribbles looks at Neon. "Do you have it all custom made?" She asks, flipping to a blank notebook page.
[17:52] <~Headlong> He nods. "You bet. Every single one of these is custom made by /the/ industry best. Sharp. Heard of them?"
[17:54] * Scribbles shakes her head. "Can't say I have."
[17:54] * Giddy sighs and stops the small talk. "Hey. Stay here until the heat blows over." He knew this place wasn't accessed often, so odds are that nopony would come looking for him here. Plus, he could do some good to the investigation while they went on. "Hey. You be good, help the lady out. Tell her that I'll be back." He muttered, stepping out the door to head back to the hotel.
[17:55] * Redshift ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[17:59] <~Headlong> Neon Trees explains to the pair at length about how his "drops" and "undertones" sound so much clearer through Sharp equipment.
[17:59] <~Headlong> Red finds that the computer, and its connection to the Canternet, are shotty, and on an almost exclusively data-basical directory.
[18:00] * Scribbles simply smiles, nods, and makes occasional notes in her notebook.
[18:03] * Redshift tries his hoof at the computer. What is within his abilities to fix, and what can he do with the not-inconsiderable skills he has?
[18:03] <~Headlong> Neon frowns slightly. "Unfortunately, all me new shit is at the island, getting fucking rained on!
[18:04] * Scribbles tilts her head. "You brought your brand new equipment to such a small party?"
[18:06] <~Headlong> Neon raises a brow. "Lady, this was my /gig/, man. I bring my new equipment to /every/ show. That's because my customers expect excellence. And I'm excellent. And new equipment is /excellent/. Plus, this wasn't some 'small party.''
[18:06] * Scribbles tilts her head the other way. "That wasn't what I heard."
[18:08] <~Headlong> Redshift is able to efficiently override the computers rudimentary access to library databases, and into the mysterious lines of code and jumbles that are this primative Canternet.
[18:08] <~Headlong> Neon Trees cocks a brow. "What are you getting at, man?"
[18:09] * Redshift reads the code carefully. What does he see?
[18:10] * Scribbles shrugs. "Well, when I talked to the police on your aunt's case, they said it was a pretty small party. A dozen ponies, I think."
[18:12] <~Headlong> Neon Trees snorts. "Yeah right. The places was /packed/. Packed, and bumping to the illest beats ever hurled."
[18:13] <~Headlong> He sees lines and lines of code, prompting him for a search on the "EAFISD". It doesn't, however, specify what that is.
[18:15] * Redshift hums, as he tries the keywords "butterball" and "mayor" and "Ponyville" first.
[18:17] <~Headlong> He finds a few headshots, in color, of the mare. He finds an image of her with a few Equestrian Peace Corps members, as well as an article detailing her trip to Zebrica. There's a short biography link, as well. There's also a link to her nephew's DJing service website.
[18:18] * Redshift thinks he can put the pieces together on that one, but he opens the biography link first.
[18:18] * Scribbles scratches her nose. "Well. I wasn't there, so what do I know?" She looks down at her notes
[18:21] <~Headlong> It's a fairly general biography, talking about her family, two sisters and a brother, all deceased. It then talks about her political, environmental, and equinatarian ventures in amnesty.
[18:24] <~Headlong> Neon rolls his eyes. "Maybe you cops and journalists should get your facts straight, man."
[18:25] * Scribbles shrugs. "It happens sometimes. I'll make sure the real facts get through."
[18:26] * Redshift decides to look at that later. He checks out the DJing service website.
[18:28] <~Headlong> Redshift is greeted by blaring techno beats that automatically play when he opens it. There, Neon Trees has listed his technical specs, his rates, his set lists from past shows, and how you can contact him to get autographed pictures and records.
[18:31] * Redshift nearly falls out of his chair, but turns the volume way down as he cringes. At least he knew the connection now, but that made Neon's involvement highly unlikely. If Neon's ego was as big as it was, and was Butterball's family to boot, why would he kill his own aunt, especially if he had such an enormous chance to show himself at a large gig? He prints out this information if he can, as he also looks to
[18:31] <Redshift> the biography to learn about her deceased family. He looks for their names, first.
[18:43] <~Headlong> Butterball was the youngest, then her older sisters, Butter Patty and Vanilla Creme, and the oldest, her brother, Creme G
[18:43] <~Headlong> Gravy.
[18:45] * Redshift looks up all their names on the search bar. Obituaries, death records, anything he can access about how they died.
[18:46] <~Headlong> He finds the same story each time. All three apparently died in a skywagon crash, and Butterball was the only one who survived.
[18:47] * Redshift looks along for details about the crash itself. Was it a hit-and-run? Was it an accident?
[18:48] <~Headlong> Police coverage of the event was sparse. No prominent info could be gathered. The EFA ruled it a "equipment malfunction."
[18:50] * Redshift presses onwards. What brand of skywagon was it? Was this a company known for "equipment malfunctions"?
[18:50] <~Headlong> He finds that the sky wagon was a "Sharp Industries" product. Curious.
[18:52] * Redshift wracks his brains. What does he know of "Sharp Industries"?
[18:54] <~Headlong> Redshift's brains are clouded with dozens of other brands that make skywagons. Sharp is not among them!
[18:55] * Redshift shrugs. He looks up "Sharp Industries" on the web.
[18:55] * Scribbles writes something down in her notebook. "Anything else you'd like to add, Neon?"
[18:56] <~Headlong> The DJ shrugs. "I'm awesome? I dunno, man, what else do you need that /isn't/ stupid police crap?"
[19:01] <~Headlong> He finds the company's homepage. "Sharp, Electronic Guidance, Noise Production, and Recording Equipment. Excellence for nearly forty years." As he's about to click on the link, though, he finds that his "access has been denied by foreign terminal. Unauthorized user on unauthorized device."
[19:02] * Redshift hums. Perhaps he was onto something. He turns to Giddy. "Hey, do you know where the mission phone is?"
[19:03] * Giddy is already gone! But there is a phone in the library!
[19:03] * Scribbles scratches her head with her pen. "I 'unno. I guess this should work for the report."
[19:04] * Redshift sighs. He turns back to the company homepage. Can he break his way in?
[19:06] <~Headlong> Neon Trees smirks. "Sick."
[19:07] <~Headlong> Redshift hits a wall, the EAFISD blocks his attempt on the first go. Discouraged, Redshift stop trying to be a 1337 Haxxor.
[19:07] * Scribbles stands up, giving Neon a smile. "My condolences about your aunt, I'm sure they'll find out what happened."
[19:09] <~Headlong> He nods slowly. "Yeah, yeah... I bet... The cops are looking in the wrong place, man, if they're coming after me. Sending a /colt/ to come grill me? Psh. They're desparate."
[19:10] * Redshift tries to process what he does know from what he has. He could risk heading back to the hotel and getting caught to get the mission phone, or he could try again from a different terminal, or...damn it. He was at a loss. Again.
[19:12] * Scribbles blinks. "A colt..?" She asks.
[19:13] * Redshift decides to find the librarian. Maybe she could help out?
[19:13] <~Headlong> Neon nods. "Little shit, about yay high." He lifts a hoof to about Redshift's height. "Red. Talked a lot of shit. Said he was a cop or something. Didn't really give a damn."
[19:15] * Scribbles tilts her head. "Geez.. That's.. Odd." She says, keeping her actual thoughts to herself.
[19:15] * Grim is now known as Karma
[19:15] <~Headlong> The DJ crashes into a beanbag chair and cracks open a Crystal Mountain Dew. "No kidding. It was /surreal/, man."
[19:17] * Scribbles shrugs. "Must be some bored kid on vaction or something."
[19:20] <~Headlong> The Librarian is busy dusting off "The Complete History of Durian Port, Burrmuda." "Oh! Hello! Finished with your homework?"
[19:20] <~Headlong> Neon doesn't buy it. "Yeah, kids go around questioning bucks about real murders /allllll/ the time."
[19:22] * Scribbles waves it off with a hoof. "Well. It was nice talking to you, Neon." She says, offering a hoof to shake.
[19:22] * Redshift shakes his head. "Not entirely." He addresses the librarian as politely as he can muster. "I'm actually looking for information about a company called Sharp Industries, I was wondering if you could help me out?"
[19:22] <~Headlong> She taps her beak with a claw. "Can't say I know a thing about it..."
[19:23] <~Headlong> The DJ lazily shakes it, and Wishing snaps a picture of the two of them shaking. "That's a great one!"
[19:25] * Scribbles giggles at Wishing's antics. "Come on, lets let Neon get back to his music." She says, starting for the door.
[19:26] * Redshift nods to the librarian. "Is there anything in the library I could look at? The computers weren't of a whole lot of help."
[19:27] <~Headlong> The enthusiastic camerabuck nodnods and follows her out. The librarian frowns a little. "Well... we have lots of things to look at, but what about, exactly?"
[19:28] * Scribbles makes sure the door closed behind them before starting down the hall.
[19:29] <Redshift> "You know," he adds. "The history of the company, what it does, and more importantly the history of any major accidents it's had. My school's having us do a project on Equestrian companies and how safety standards have improved through the ages, you know?"
[19:31] <~Headlong> "Son," The librarian frowns, "I don't know how you expect a Burrmuda Historical Library to have anything like that..."
[19:33] * Redshift shrugs to the librarian. "Well, hey. It's worth a shot. I've found surprising stuff in libraries before." He sighs. "But yeah. I think that's all I need, thanks."
[19:35] <~Headlong> She frowns a little, apparently upset that she's unable to help him.
[19:37] * Redshift scratches his head. "Listen, uh..." He looks to the librarian. "Is there a phone I could use?"
[19:37] <~Headlong> She points to back behind the circulation desk. "Just hit eight and wait for the tone."
[19:38] * Redshift nods. "Thanks so much." He trots over to the phone and dials the number, and waits for Forest Green to pick up on the other line.
[19:38] <~Headlong> Scribbles and Wishing_Well find Bonnet and Kopesh in the lobby, chatting away. Foster has returned to the desk, idly shining keys.
[19:39] <~Headlong> Forest picks up after several rings. "H-Hello? Who is this?"
[19:39] * Redshift speaks into the headset. "Forest? Hey, it's me. Red."
[19:39] * Scribbles walked up to Bonnet and Kopesh, "Hey. You two figure out anything?" She asks.
[19:40] * Kopesh ([email protected]) Quit ( Connection closed )
[19:40] * Kopesh ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[19:40] <~Headlong> She gasps over the phone. "Red, sweety? What are you calling me from... Burrmuda for?"
[19:42] * Bonnet waves a hoof back in greeting, looking over at Kopesh and nodding to the paper, "I'm not sure, maybe we should talk about it outside."
[19:43] * Scribbles nods. "Lead on."
[19:44] * Giddy walks in the door of the hotel.
[19:44] * Redshift speaks to the phone. "It's part of my job. They took us out for a retreat here. It's nice." He sighs. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...he sighs. Yeah. Bad idea. He decides to just chat it up with Forest for now. "Just wanted to talk and say hi and let you know I'm doing OK." He purses his lips as he admits it. "I've missed you."
[19:46] * Kopesh heads outside and shows them the paper. "Have a look at this."
[19:46] * Bonnet slides out of her seat and stretches a little before trotting along with Kopesh to lead the others outside.
[19:46] * Scribbles takes the paper, giving it a read.
[19:46] <~Headlong> Her frown is practically audible. "And you didn't... you didn't call me first?" She sounds wounded.
[19:48] * Kopesh lets Scribbles read it. "He didn't seem depressed enough to have this be direct at people in general. He means it to someone or some group in particular."
[19:48] * Redshift sighs. "I'm sorry. I really am. It's just..." Aw, great. Now he felt bad. This wasn't supposed to make him feel bad! "It just...I'm just really bad at keeping in touch, I guess." A sigh, and then he speaks. "I'm sorry, alright? I'll be sure to kep in touch more. Really."
[19:49] * Scribbles rubs her chin. "Maybe.. Sure does seem like he's certain about it being murder.."
[19:49] <~Headlong> Forest sighs a little. "It's all right, dear... Just make sure you... you know, call every once and a while, you know how worried I get..."
[19:50] * Bonnet nods a little, "Like I told Kopesh, it could just be he was lashing out at her competition because he didn't have anyone to blame, but it could also be something else..."
[19:50] <Kopesh> "Does the use of the word monsterous seem odd to any of you?"
[19:52] * Giddy waits by the door. "What up?"
[19:53] * Scribbles shakes her head. "Everypony thinks heavily about the murder of the love of their life."
[19:54] * Redshift nods. "Yeah, I'm sorry." He clears his throat. He didn't want this to get too sappy. "Yeah, I'll keep in touch. And...stuff. Mhm." Several moments' worth of awkward silence, then he speaks into the receiver. "So how's it going?"
[19:54] * Bonnet hmms softly, "Well the whole thing seems odd to me...  Especially that he would consider it a murder, since there wasn't any evidence at all..."
[19:54] * Scribbles scratches her head. "To be fair, there isn't much evidence in the first place."
[19:56] <Kopesh> "That's part of what makes it odd. She burst into flames and we hear a roar of some kind and uses that word. It's entirly possible it's pure coincidence, but our job is to investigate that sort of thing. Even so, it doesn't really give us anything to go on unless we talk to him again."
[19:56] <Kopesh> he uses*
[19:57] * Scribbles nods. "Maybe he'll be a little more open to the press.." She says to herself.
[19:58] <Kopesh> "Bonnet and I thought you should try that. Perhaps in a couple day to avoid suspicion."
[19:59] * Bonnet taps her hoof on the ground slowly, "Yeah, it definitely might help if you talked to him as the press, Scribbles, or tried to...  I've been thinking more about this whole thing... you said a roar, right, like some kind of predator?"
[19:59] * Scribbles nods. "I talked to Neon and Amaretto. They both seem shaken up, one more than the other, but they don't claim to have seen anything."
[20:00] <~Headlong> A voice from somewhere behind Giddy mutters, "Perhaps it's time you all... looked... at the body, perhaps."
[20:01] * Giddy turns around to see what's behind him, looking moderately freaked out.
[20:01] * Scribbles jumps in surprise, looking at the origin of the voice.
[20:02] <~Headlong> Forest doesn't seem all that comfortable with the change in tone. "I'm doing well, dear. Had the girls over last night for a movie... I wish you had been there, you would have loved it."
[20:02] * Redshift rolls his eyes in spite of himself. "Yeah, yeah. You know I don't like those weird chick flicks, Forest."
[20:03] * Bonnet starts a little, blinking hard and looking with the others.
[20:04] <~Headlong> Scribbles and Giddy turn to see a gray mare, leaning on a pillar of the massive portico, smoking a cigarette. "Well, that's not the greeting I expected... or warrant, really." She exhales, smoke floating in front of her eyes. "How do you do?"
[20:04] * Scribbles tilts her head. "Well. My heartrate is a little faster than usual.."
[20:05] <Kopesh> "Who are you?"
[20:06] * Giddy blinks and resists coughing up a lung. Oh fuck oh fuck you're real. "A mysterious stranger who has no desire to share names." He answered Kopesh, thinking that was what she was going to say.
[20:06] * Giddy looks at the others. "I picked up a mortician's kit up at the pharmacy."
[20:08] * Scribbles looks at Giddy. "Wha.. I don't.. Follow."
[20:08] * Bonnet looks between Giddy and the newcommer, frowning with confusion.
[20:09] <~Headlong> The mare takes another puff. "Just someone who's interest coincide with your own. Names aren't terribly important, when you won't find anything searching any of mine. Just dropping by to say that it's probably time you did a proper autopsy of the body." She nods to Giddy. "Your blunt friend seems more than ready for such a task."
[20:10] * Giddy looks at her and then asks what he feels is the right question. "What do you get by helping us?"
[20:11] <~Headlong> She shrugs lightly. "Do I need to get something." More smoke, not even from her cigarette, floats in front of her. It hangs in a cloud about her.
[20:11] * Redshift ([email protected]) Quit ( Ping timeout: 121 seconds )
[20:12] * Scribbles tries to wave the smoke from her own face. "And you want to hitch a ride with us?" She asks.
[20:12] <~Headlong> Forest chuckles to Redshift. "Oh, no! This one wasn't a chick flick at all! It was one of those wonderful superhero movies, about a pony who used a /phone/ to save ponies. Can you believe that, dear?"
[20:13] * Giddy exhales the smoke out of his face. "Nobody does anything for nothing."
[20:14] <~Headlong> The mare shakes her head. "No, not really. That's work for the CSI's... I'm just here to make sure that you're all moving in the right direction." She gives Giddy a glance. "Not a believer in altruism, I see... Pity..."
[20:15] * Kopesh looks at the smoke. "Thanks for the help. We'll get right on it. Hopefully we can get more from you in the future." He puts a hoof out to see if she'll shake.
[20:16] * Giddy 's lips press down hard on themselves. He didn't want to get into a philisophical debate with somepony that knows why he's here and yet doesn't work for the Foundation.
[20:17] * Redshift ([email protected]) has joined #FruityRumpusAssholeFactory
[20:18] <~Headlong> This smoking mare politely declines. "Good day to you all. I hope you can sort this out without much trouble." And with that, the smoke around her begins to thicken, and she disappears with a chuckle.
[20:18] <Kopesh> "Figured."
[20:19] * Scribbles blinks, looking at the others. "That's.. Odd. Even for the lot of us."
[20:19] * Redshift laughs in spite of himself. "Yeah, yeah, OK. Next time I come home I'll ask about it."
[20:20] * Bonnet blinks a little more too, "Well... yeah... not what I would have expected...  Did you know her, Giddy?"
[20:21] * Giddy watches as she fades away. "I know she's been following us." He moves for the car. "Come along. We need to pick the kid up from day care."
[20:21] <~Headlong> Forest sighs, but happily this time. "Ah... I can't wait for that, dear. When will you be home? Are they paying for everything? Food? Transportation? Hotel rooms?"
[20:21] * Scribbles blinks again, looking at Giddy. "Day care?"
[20:21] * Bonnet blinks and looks around at their surroundings, "She... has?  Why didn't you say anything?"
[20:21] * Redshift nods. "Mhm. They've got everything covered, don't worry about it." He sighs. "I've gotta get going now, but I'll try and call more often, alright?"
[20:22] * Giddy wordlessly waits until everyone gets into the car. "I did. Remember when we were on the coast, and I smelled smoke?"
[20:22] * Kopesh just shrugs and follow Giddy.
[20:23] * Bonnet gives Giddy a blank look, trying to remember.  Failing that she turns back to the hotel, "Hold on, if we're going I need to get my pitchfork."
[20:24] <~Headlong> She laughs. "Of course. Run along, dear, and be safe!"
[20:25] * Redshift nods. "Seeya." He hangs up the phone with a sigh, as he decides to sit back and wait for Giddy to come pick him up.
[20:26] * Bonnet doesn't wait too long to see if there's any objections before galloping off to find the guards they'd met on the way in to get her weapon back, and everyone else's stuff if possible.
[20:28] * Kopesh had already gotten his back.
[20:29] <~Headlong> She finds her weapons where she left them, and the guards sign all of them out. "Good day to all of you."
[20:32] * Bonnet signs the sheet with a flourish and stuffs the gear into her bag, returning with haste to the car and a friendly wave to the guard ponies.
[20:32] * Giddy gets in the car, comes by to pick him up, and then continues. "Yeah, I think I saw her when we were in Burrmuda." And then he realized that makes no sense because they were always in Burrmuda.
[20:33] * Redshift hops in and goes on his way.
[20:35] <~Headlong> The group is, once again, united in Giddy's car. After some insight from a mysterious smoking mare, what is their next move?
[20:36] * Giddy coughs. "Right, let's go to the boat and get back to the scene." He said, tools jingling slightly in the trunk.
[20:37] * Scribbles nods in the backseat. "Alright then."
[20:38] * Kopesh nods in the passenger seat. "Let's go see what's to be found."
[20:40] <~Headlong> Giddy's quick (reckless) driving gets the group back to Durian Port, to the Tide Hauler's dock in no time at all. There, the sea-faring task force waits for them. The captain seems to have been anticipating their arrival. "All aboard... We're shipping out..."
[20:40] <~Headlong> : PLAYBACK PAUSED, GDRL-2 ADDENDUM-22 PLAYBACK BEGIN :