The Representitive (UrbFan)

[22:41] <@u_Sally> [It's fairly early during night hours, and you're awake for once. You've been stretching your waking hours out as long as you can before Jovy starts physically taking your books and phone off you, and making you sit down and eat and go to bed. Working on constructing your plan to retrieve Caden has been your main focus, but right now you're taking a break to sit down and- well. Do work in the bookshop.]
[22:43] <@u_Sally> [So, while Jovy is manning the desk, and discussing the price of an Ancient Mayan language primer with a disgruntled dryad, you're sitting on the floor and restocking the self help section.]
[22:47] <u_Terese> [You're not one of the Umbra, you're not that lucky. You are simply their voice where their presence might be...unappreciated. Dressed in formal wear you head towards Frogs and Toads. Word has reached your ears that this is one of the places where Aeshma is dealing, going under the name of 'Rigel'.]
[22:48] <u_Terese> [You have made a point to come while it was still open. You may still be able to do this without any further complications. But if there is, well...your friends aren't that far. Lurking in the shadows, they will be waiting for your word.]
[22:50] <u_Terese> [You open the door. Glancing shortly at the demon and dryad at the dest before walking towards the human. Smoothing your suit as you walk. "Are you the owner of this store?" You ask, voice kind, but neutral despite that. You're here to make a good impression.]
[22:53] <@u_Sally> [Glance up at the suited lady who seems to have located you. "Yyyes, that'd be me?" Offer an awkward smile. You don't really feel like playing bookshop owner tonight. Wonder if you can get Jovy to deal with her instead.]
[22:55] <u_Terese> [You smile in return. "We have a proposition for you, if you'd be so kind as to hear it. We are called Terese, and we represent the Umbra."]
[23:01] <@u_Sally> [Jovy smiles at the dryad as he departs, with his heavily discounted tome, and wanders to the front door, flipping the sign over to 'Closed'. Then he walks down to where Sally is standing suddenly upright before Terese, studying her silently, fingers wrapped tightly around the contract chain. "If you'll follow me, ma'am, I think the backroom might be more suitable for your discussion."]
[23:02] <u_Terese> ["Of course." You smile again, and gesture for Jovy to lead on. Completely at ease.]
[23:05] <@u_Sally> [Jovy leads the way to the back room- a small storeroom, with a table and chair and an old couch between the storage racks. There's a small sink and mirror in the corner, and a door leading to further storerooms. You trail behind Terese, and sit yourself down on the chair, leaving the couch for your visitor. Jovy closes the door, and remains standing beside it, watching Terese.]
[23:07] <u_Terese> [You sit down on the couch, hands folded on your lap. "It has come to our attention that a criminal fire elemental may have come by this store several times. Whether you knew of his criminal nature or not is irrelevant to us. We simply wish to make sure that he comes to justice. You may know him as 'Rigel'." Your tone makes it clear that this is not, in fact, his actual name.]
[23:13] <@u_Sally> ["I get a lot of visitors to the shop. Given it's, y'know, a moderately successful business." You're actually rather relaxed now, the chain glinting warmly on your wrist as you lean your elbow on the table. Your tone is idle and curious. "I don't exactly see how I can help bring anyone to justice. I suggest talking to the police- there's a chap named Harris, I hear he's a good sort."]
[23:16] <u_Terese> [You give her a curious look. "This is not a matter for those veiled. We already know he is in the area, and we know that he has visited here atleast once. And it was not his first visit." Your tone is firm. "Your cooperation in this would be...most helpful." Your tone turns lighter. "And, of course, we would see you properly rewarded for your services."]
[23:17] <@u_Sally> ["Try to be a little more specific in what you're asking of me, Terese."]
[23:18] <u_Terese> ["Where he is staying or has stayed. Who his friends and acquaintances are. Why he came to you, and what is he looking for. If or when he will be visiting here next, or any plans that he has that you know of."]
[23:19] <@u_Sally> ["So you're after /information/." Lean back. "Not to lure him in, say I've a nice plate of cookies that wants eating, and let you and your friends jump him? You could reach a little higher."]
[23:23] <u_Terese> ["Yes. We do not wish to involve you any more than is necessary." Thats what you're saying anyways. The store is going to be watched constantly now that its been found. With, or without her consent. "If you have information, now is the time to share it."]
[23:24] <@u_Sally> [Smile. It's friendly and innocuous. "Would I be right in assuming that you and the Umbra are aware my business is not only running this bookshop?"]
[23:26] <u_Terese> ["Yes, that is correct. Which is why we have said that you would be rewarded for any services offered." You frown for a second. "It would be...unwise, to turn us down. Harbouring a fugitive is not conductive to business."]
[23:28] <@u_Sally> ["Fugitive by whose standards? Surely not the local law enforcement's, given 'this is not a matter for those veiled'."]
[23:33] <u_Terese> ["The Powers that Be." You reach into your blazer's inside pocket and pull out a piece of paper. Its a wanted poster, or close enough. It has Rigel's face on it, along with the name 'Aeshma', a number of aliases, crimes commited.]
[23:33] <@u_Sally> [Resist /really/ hard the urge to roll your eyes. Hold a hand out for the poster. "May I?"]
[23:36] <u_Terese> [You offer it over. Crimes commited include murder of a sentient, theft, multiple counts of arson, destruction of property, and 'many more minor charges.'. Its signed by two names: Void and Order.]
[23:38] <@u_Sally> [You read it. Then hand it back to her. "I don't like selling on people I'm already doing business with," you say, flat and honest. "It's messy."]
04[23:41] <u_Terese> [You raise an eyebrow and your mouth goes thin. "We're sorry. Perhaps we didn't make this clear. Your cooperation is /not/ negotiable."]
[23:43] <@u_Sally> ["My cooperation is /always/ negotiable." Your fingers tangle themselves loosely in the chain. "You do not come to me, in my home and businessplace, and order me to hand over information, and I'll get a treat if I'm good."]
[23:44] <u_Terese> [You sigh. "We'll ask this once more. Will you please hand him over?"]
[23:44] <@u_Sally> ["No."]
[23:46] <u_Terese> [Another sigh. "Thus, we resort to these unfortunately forceful tactics." You stand up and brush yourself off. "If we will not be given him, we will burn the ground from under him until he has no where to run." You incline your head. "Good night, Ms. Hall." You start walking towards the door.]
[23:52] <@u_Sally> ["That's real big of you all." Cross your arms. Jovy has somehow shifted just enough, during the previous conversation, to be slightly blocking the door. "You think, after years of inattention, you and your Void and Order can come in, and expect us to respect you when you finally decide that one particular person's actions are inexcusable? We have had to take care of ourselves, police ourselves, for decades. Do your Powers that Be think we would just accept this double standard, and roll over?"]
[23:57] <u_Terese> [Finding your path blocked you turn back to Sally, crossing your arms as well. "The Powers that Be have bigger things to deal with than the policing of one city. Matters such as this criminal. You have seen but a brief glimmer of what he will bring. He is The Tower. The fulcrum of ruination. The path he treads is the path of blood and destruction. A destination he /can not/ be allowed to reach."]
[00:02] <@u_Sally> ["The Powers that Be are not respected in this establishment. And I do not think that any of the local fae, demon, werewolf or otherwise supernatural entities or groups, will respect you either. I have more important things to deal with, than selling away /good/ /business/ to creatures who give no help when /children/ are stolen, and lives are being ruined, because we are not /important/ enough." You're on your feet now- not advancing on her, but you're furious, and your skin is reddening where the chain now binds your fingers and wrist hotly and tightly.]
[00:08] <u_Terese> [You are remaining deathly calm however. "Very well then. Your choice is made and you may have doomed yourself and countless others in it. And unless you are planning on either starting your own record with our murder or kidnapping, we will be going."]
[00:13] <@u_Sally> [Snort. "No more doomed than any other day, darl. Scoot, and take your little eavesdropping friend with you." Jovy moves away from the door, which clicks and swings slowly open. He moves through, and unlocks the front door, waiting patiently by it.]
[00:16] <u_Terese> [You turn and walk, the Umbra that was hiding in the shadows joins you in a vaguely humanoid shape as the two of you walk through the door. The lengthening shadows hold many more than just the one. You turn and look back at the store. "Watch it. If he comes, take him. If either the demon or human leave, take them or kill them."]
[00:17] <@u_Sally> [Jovy watches Terese from the doorway, an indescribable look upon his face. Then he bows slightly, and closes and relocks it.]
[00:19] <u_Terese> [You incline your head slightly in response before turning and walking away. There are other leads, and others that may listen to reason.]
[00:22] <@u_Sally> [Jovy returns to the backroom, where you're still standing, looking furious. He touches your wrist, where the chain has begun to burn into your skin. You slowly collapse, and he guides you to sit, puppetlike, down on the couch. The fury seeps out of your face.]
[00:22] <@u_Sally> [>Sally: Sleep.]