The Criss-Crossed Case (Sevi)

[Dusty Dawson]

The detective was not about to let go anytime soon. She had Sevi in her clutches and didn't want to give her the chance to give her the slip. The night had dragged on for far too long to let her off that easily.

"Just cooperate, for cryin' out loud!" she said, "Ain't like I'm keepin' ya 'round for your pleasant company. Just answer a few lousy questions and we go our own damn ways. Now who hired you. Gimme a name a description or where ya met...anything!"

Dusty hauled Sevi down a side alley. It was quieter and offered less of a chance for any guards to stumble across them. Just being around Sevi seemed to be aggravating enough. But, as much as she wanted to part ways, Dusty needed to find out what was going on. Someone out there thought that it would be easy to just blow up the detective and she wanted to prove what a grievous error that was.

"Don't forget." she said, "Whoever it was, sent you in that room to get blown up, along with me."

That was a slight leap, but Dusty was reasonably sure that was part of the plan. Even if it wasn't, it didn't hurt to have that thought planted into Sevi's head.

[Sevi]

“My compny’s(pronounced without the a) plenty pleasant!” she exclaimed struggling slightly just to see if the woman would let her go… of course it didn’t work and she proceeded with the usual stupid question she had heard many times from impressive individuals she had stolen from. As if anyone would send her to steal something from you just because you’re rich… now if you had a hit out on you. Then you could get a visit from the stupidly large breasted red assassin lady she had met.

“Bahh. All the rich people want to blow me up.” This of course was a very big lie. And probably a bad one since the woman may think to haul in on her bounty… which was considerable last she checked… errr had someone check.

“But lemme go and I might talk a bit… fer information exchange.” She said and stopped her slight struggle in the back alley. She had seen people mugged, killed, and raped in these small alleys. Her head glanced around a bit… they were pretty far into the place and she could hardly see the street they had left. A light laugh escaped her lips. “Yer… not planned to Mug, kill, or rape me are ya?” If she was then the woman should get prepared for a real fight not some sissy fight like earlier. She’d have to go full throttle and… well some of the house walls in this city weren’t up to snuff in taking Sevi’s punches. Or the claws…

[Dusty Dawson]

"Not from what I've been seein'." Dusty muttered. There was so much lacking in reason behind Sevi's excuses that the detective chose to simply ignore them. The last thing she needed was to get sidetracked by yet another argument.

"Seriously?" Dusty rolled her eyes at Sevi's concerns of her intentions. "I'll let go o ya...but if ya try'n run, I can garun-damn-tee ya it won't be very far."

With that warning she released her grip. Still she remained right in front of her, while she kept her against the wall. Dusty was wary of the girl. She didn't want her having many options should she choose to make a break for it.

"OK...now how 'bout we exchange some info?"

[Sevi]

after her release she eyes that sword the woman was carrying... seemed sharp, and if Sevi was unlucky...as seemed to be the case today the woman would know how to use it. Or she could be like one of those cicus acts that she'd seen after sneaking in. This one clown looking person threw a full sized sword and impaled a dummy with it... she still glad guards havn't learned that skill yet.

"why would I 'exchange' information with you? You don' seem to have anything I'd want." Sevi looked at the womans face. It was clean... she'd taken her fair share of bathes Sevi was sure. Whiel she lived down here in the alleys... with the rats and the crazies... those rats got big.

[Dusty Dawson]

"Well, you sure know how ta bruise a gal's ego." Dusty deadpanned, "I'm a consulting detective. Meanin' if I don't know somethin' I sure as hell am gonna find out about real quick."

She rested her free hand on a hip, to think she had just let go of the girl in order to get some info and she was already backing out of the agreement. But what else should she really have expected. With a sigh she shook her head.

"Look, you tell me what I want to know and we can figure out how to go about bustin' up the fellas lookin' to turn us into paste. Hell, you help me out, I'll even cut ya in a job that'll pay. We bust up some thugs, you get extra coin in your pocket. That's easier than feedin' dead goblins to a buzzard."

[Sevi]

Technically she knew how to bruise a lot more than that, but now wasn’t the time to go into such things. And… she really didn see the difference between a consulting detective and a normal one… did that mean she consulted detectives about being… detectives? The thought crossed her mind about exploring this venue… and she decided against it. Sevi’s eyes followed the moving hand to its resting place very wary of this ‘consulting detective’.

It was cold… the thought crossed her mind and the newly cold places from the tears and rips in her jacket became all the more prominent. Her mind was buzzing. Sure the knock to the head among all the ones in the recent past had their effect on its cognative functions, but Sevi was FAR from stupid. She just knew what she liked and fighting was one of those things. And… she didn’t fight smart she fought in a way that was fun. So when the woman proposed the deal Sevi added to it. “I wan my jacket fixed up first… then we can talk.” Sevi said pulling the small cloth like hat from one of the pockets of the rag. And pulling it over her head. (see photos).

[Dusty Dawson]

Dusty reaxed a bit and gave a confirming nod of her head, "Fair 'nuff." she said, "I know a tailor who owes me one. We'll get that patched up in time."

She stuck her hand out to the young ruffian. "You got yourself a deal." she said to confirm the transaction. All that would be left would be to track down the missing client and start asking some pointed questions. Which would be made all the easier with the pointed weapon resting at her hip.

"So, kid, what's your name?"

[Sevi]

Owe's her one… for consulting? Does that mean the tailor was also a detective? She found this woman annoyingly odd, but the ‘partnership’ of sorts offered her certain ways to get where she wanted… and the woman seemed proficient in a fight though Sevi had help back for the obvious reason, and the woman hadn’t had that sword of hers… which she was probably better at using than fighting with her fist. Which brought to mind the time she saw two women grappling or was it some sort of wrestling… the place was called earthly house or something… odd place. She wondered if they would let her fight there. Problem is she forgot where it was. *heh, funny how she knows what rape is, but not what was happening then.*

Her mind snapped back to where it should be and off the track it had been taken down. “The names… Sevi.” She said after the pause. She probably should give a false name, but it was too much trouble, and they would be working together she supposed. “Let’s go to the tailor… its gettin colder and I wan ta make sure you won’t go back on this part of tha deal.”

[Dusty Dawson]

To, think Dusty was the one who was not to be trusted. And all that time she had spent on earning a reputation as a noble paragon of justice. Well, a slightly mercenary paragon of justice. Hudson didn't accept payment in honor, after all.

"Fine with me." she took a step back and led the way out of the alley. The tailor's wasn't too far away and he lived above the shop. A few quick raps on the door and he should be up and about.

"I'm Dusty. It'll be...interestin' to work with ya." she said with a smirk. She wasn't sure how it could possibly work. The girl seemed about as subtle as a stampede. But, she would find a way. After all, for every skill there was a purpose. And Dusty knew that she would need quite a few skilled people to back her up. Thus client was a small fry, compared to the Spider.

[Sevi]

“What kinda names dusty?” Sevi asked without thinking… as she did on most occasions. Using her brain wasn’t something she liked doing. It made her realize things she would rather not like to know. So… it was only used when necessary… talking was not one of those times. The house seemed familiar though… odd.

“Hopefully it’ll be more fun than interestin.” She finished off as she heard footsteps approaching. She recognized the house from somewhere, but ehh who cared she was getting her jacket fixed and this was great. Then she could do whatever she wanted with the money she took from the woman, and the pockets of the people they were going after. Ahh maybe she should be on the right side of the law… then again there were sooo many restrictions. Like ‘don’t hit the patrons, and watch where your aiming that thing.’ Blah blah all annoying stuff.

[Dusty Dawson]

"Dusty's a nickname...and it's a fine one, if ya ask me." she said. The detective shrugged her shoulders. There just seemed no way of avoiding arguments with Sevi. At least she was a competent fighter.

The house remained quiet for a little while until a candle flickered in one of the windows above them. In a few minutes time, the owner was at the door, fiddling with the locks to grant the two access.

"What do you want?" mumbled the short and tired looking fellow at the other side of the doorway.

"Hey! Long time no see!" Dusty greeted jovially, "Quick favor an' we'll be on our way. See, my friend here needs her jacket fixed an' I tell 'er Joco is the guy ta go to! So how 'bout it? Patch one up on the house?"

The tailor looked between the two and with shrug motioned them to follow him inside.

[Sevi]

Sevi grumbled under her breath as she walked into the house. “You don’t look all that dusty to me.” It was a dumb nickname and she was sure the other knew it… yep she must have hated it at first, but grown used to it. Really? She was a detective consultant or… whatever it was she’d said. And now she was going to get her jacket repaired in a house she recognized.

As the man walks far enough ahead of them to be out of earshot Sevi walks up beside “Dusty” and says, “You didn say anythin like that ta me. All you said was you had a place I could get it fixed.” As if it was the most common thing in the world. Really though… why would she say she had said something to a friend like that… unless he wasn’t really a friend and this was some odd setup to get her caught. Yes… the puzzles pieces were clicking together in her mind. The name, the job… all made up.

All they were doing was waiting for the right time to spring the trap and she’d be helpless. Well lets see them get one over on Sevi. She’d be ready she wasn’t falling for their tricks! Her eyes narrowed as they warily followed the “tailor” in front of them.

[Dusty Dawson]

Was it a dumb nickname? Maybe. But, she got it in an orphanage and it had been following her around ever since she had been getting into schoolyard brawls back in this days. Right through bootcamp and straight on to the field of battle. So, there was no going by "Riley" anymore.

"I'm just talking up the old codger." Dusty whispered back, "Sure I got a favor comin' my way, but it's still pretty late. Might as well stroke the ol' ego."

It was an honest explanation. She wanted to get in and out with as little fuss as possible. And she couldn't argue with the results. They were following the tailor in and soon enough, Sevi would have a jacket that looked as good as knew.

"Let me see the jacket." Joco said as he lit the lamps in his main workspace. Scraps of fabric were strewn about the room and he took a seat at one of the sewing machines.

[Sevi]

Sevi followed the rest of the way… which wasn’t far and stopped. She still didn’t see the reason to ‘stroke the ol ego’, but she was sure the consultant knew what was going on… maybe. She glanced around the room they were in… seemed a bit small or rather cluttered.

He wanted her jacket and it seemed warm enough in the house. So she complied removing the jacket and handed it out to the man. She stood there topless waiting for him to take it. Which brought about the point of what she was going to tell the woman after she got the jacket fixed. Ti wasn’t like she really knew much about the guy that had her wait in the room for the hand off of the box. Then again he WAS on wanted posters, but that was four months ago. Someone had caught him, but he couldn’t remember the name. not like it really mattered he was ‘stricktly small time’ as she had heard in a bar when she was picking pockets of the drunk people.

[Dusty Dawson]

Joco took the jacket and immediately went to work. He operated as if he did not even have two visitors to his shop and focused solely on the task at hand. There seemed little point in worrying about the particular states of dress of some customers over others when it was an issue to be solved upon completion of the task at hand.

Dusty, meanwhile, quircked an eyebrow up at Sevi. "You, uh, wanna borrow my coat in the meantime?" she offered. It wasn't exactly the ideal garment for the young fighter, but it would have been better than nothing.

The tailor took some time to find thread that would match the color of the jacket. This didn't take to long, as he luckily had some piled into one of the nearby drawers. It wasn't a terribly long process to patch up the tears and the moment it was done, he handed it back over to Sevi.

"There you go, miss. Good as new." he said, before turning back to Dusty, "If that will be all, I'd like to be getting back to sleep, now."