Elementary (Dusty)

[Toph Bei Fong]

Even with the stupid wooden floor dulling her earth-sight, Toph was able to accomplish her goal.

Namely finding the Bard and Balliasta, getting past the patrons as the bar stared to fill up for the evening rush, getting upstairs, locating the room of one Dusty Dawson, metal bending the deadbolt back, entering her apartment/office, and locking the door behind her. Honestly, sometimes Toph wondered who the blind one here was.

Once inside, Toph removed the brace she wore on he right arm, mental bending it into its staff shape once more, and used it as a cane as carefully memorizing the layout of the room. Once that was done, she found a small table in one corner, sat down, thew her feet up on said table, and waited.

It was silent in the room, which suited her fine. Would make it easier to notice when her quarry came home. Though she looked perfectly at ease as she waited, she was careful to keep her staff laying across her lap, the tip still touching the ground, ready to pick up any vibrations that she couldn't hear.

[Dusty Dawson]

Dusty was back home. A quick case, involving a missing husband, a poor performing race horse and an illicit affair with a barmaid had come to a successful conclusion. Pockets now properly lined, the detective was able to pay the rent and fetch herself a celebratory bottle of whiskey. Simple cases were just so hard to find these days. Especially ones that didn't involve wanton destruction of private property.

Bottle in hand, Dusty scaled up the steps and took a quick swig. Nothing beat a stiff drink and a quiet night in, after such a long a day. Sure there were now two bizarre cases that would most likely see her without payment at their conclusion. But, what she lacked in coin she would more than make up for in a sense of justice.

All she needed was a few puzzle pieces to come together and she could make a move. Maybe she could even spend some productive time taking another look at her notes on the case. Who knew, she had the whole night to herself. Yes, just her in her room. Alone.

The lock clicked open and Dusty strolled right on into her humble abode. There were probably nicer places she could shack up in, but there was something about the Bard and Ballista that just felt like a little slice of home. A dirty, alcohol-soaked home, but home nonetheless.

Peaceful, however, it was not meant to be. No, not this night. Almost immediately she was greeted by the sight of a dark haired woman sitting at one of her tables. Dusty examined the bottle of whiskey to make sure she had only taken a sip and had not ingested more than half of it's contents.

Nope, she was still sober.

"Well, I'm gonna have ta have a talk with Hudson about how just about anyone can apparently just stroll on into rented apartments an' make 'emselves all nice an' comfy." she said, a hand resting calmly on the hilt of her sword, "Now, if this here is concernin' a case, I'll just have to kindly ask ya to come on back tomorrow durin' business hours. If it ain't, I might just go on an' assume you got less pleasant things in mind. In which case I'll be askin' ya to head out the door, for I toss ya out a window. Don't mean ta be soundin' ornery, ma'am, I just don't take kindly strangers tryin ta show off bow sneaky they are in my apartment. 'Specially at these late hours."

Dusty finished a surprisingly polite smile (even to herself) as she kept a close eye on the mystery woman. She did have the sneaking suspicion that this was going to be another in an increasing number of long and exhausting nights.

[Toph Bei Fong]

Toph had been expecting Dusty's arrival, of course. Even had a good idea the way the woman would feel, though that was muffled by all this damn wood.

She had not been expecting the accent. At all.

"Oh Gaia," she said, just barely keeping herself from laughing but not able to stop the wide grid from lighting up her face. "Is that really your voice? I mean, that's not an accent you put on to throw people off? I'm really going to like you."

Toph took a moment to compose herself, but didn't make any move to take her feet down from the table. "Anyway, don't be too mad to the guy down stairs. There isn't much can be done to keep me out of a place I want into. The name's Toph Bei Fong. I'm sure you heard of me. As amusing as it would be to have you try to toss me out the window, I'd much rather get to my point and then let you deice if you want me around.

"The Spider. I'm looking to put an end to hjm, but I'll need help. Word is you are the best in town. I'd bet you've already heard the name whispered at least, might have a a run in with their lesser mooks at best. Figure between the two of us we'll have their organization busted by winter solstice.

"Interested? Or so we have to go through the part where you try and attack me and I have to kick your ass to prove I'm serious about the whole thing. I'd really rather not. I just had my nails done."

[Dusty Dawson]

Dusty lifted an eyebrow at the laughter. Her voice alone was enough to amuse the intruder. Dusty didn't share the mirthful mood. But, no moves had been made to threaten her just yet, she let the blind woman run her mouth a little more.

So, she was the Blind Bandit. She had heard of her. "Oh, I know 'bout the Spider." she nodded, "Been on 'im almost since the day I rode in. It's a slow process, but I'll be bustin' up this lil' operation 'o his in time."

That was a slight over-simplification. But so long as Toph felt the need to be rather boastful, Dusty could show off a bit, herself. And she was still a little annoyed at the late night call. As first impressions went, this wasn't a very good one.

"As for yourself, ya do have a reputation..." Dusty shot a little smirk, "Though, if I recall right, ya did bungle that whole mess with the highway robber. What was her name? Darin' Jo somethin'-or-other?"

The detective chuckled, "Not that I'm one ta dwell on the past, mind you. Seein' as how the present has ya breakin' into my home and talkin' a mighty big game, all while insultin' me." Dusty leaned against the door she had just shut and raised her whiskey for another swig, "Don't know 'bout you, but I been raised to believe that as bein' impolite. Were I in a fouler mood, I'd show ya just how easy it'd be ta give ya flyin' lessons.

"But, tonight I got some whiskey and a nice payday, so I'm willin' ta forgive ya." she grinned. "So the big question now is...do I let ya in on this? Well, I ain't made up my mind yet. Now sure, you might have some unique talents that I might be able to put to some good use. Beyond that, what else can ya give me? 'Cuz if it's just muscle, I can find that anywhere...Hell, there's probably some fella who'd provide that for his next round, downstairs."

Of course, Dusty did have one idea in mind, already. Still, she wasn't sure what else she could do with Toph. Not to mention she wanted to make the hiring process just a LITTLE bit harder for the bounty hunter's sudden intrusion.

[Toph Bei Fong]

"Everyone brings up the one that got away," Toph grumbled. "Not the hundreds that didn't. Ugh." She rolled her sightless eyes.

"As for what I can bring, well, did you know that there seems to be a series of tunnels under pretty much the whole city? Deep ones too, the kind you aren't going to find accidentally while digging a new foundation for a building. Didn't think to much of it a first; you'd be surprised how many capital cities have them. Usually made for royalty to get the hell out when they get invaded or if peasants start revolting. Most places they wind up forgotten and never used."

Toph wiggled her toes. "But that not what I felt. These still get used. Like a lot. And they dont seem to originate from the castle, either. Though they do seem to spoke from a common point, before they go so deep even I cant find them anymore. Now, would you like to know where this common point is, or are we still in the window-launching stage of our relationship?"

[Dusty Dawson]

"Yeah, the tunnels." Dusty nodded, "They're smuggling a lot of nasty stuff down there. Stuff that can blow up real easy."

Dusty was reminded of the warehouse. Just one part in the grand scheme of things. Sure it was destroyed and was probably an inconvenience. But, that was barely scratching the surface. And much like an onion, this case had a lot of layers.

Plus it stunk.

"Alright, then...I figured if anyone'd know 'bout them tunnels it'd be you." she conceded, "I'll take ya on board. Findin' the point o' origin's one thing. It'll be another matter entirely, to find out who's callin' the shots. This Spider is careful. And he don't wanna be known. Any tracks are gonna be covered up real quick..."

Dusty grinned at her newest partner. "But, Hell, I feel like kickin' over an ant hill! Let's push this guy's buttons an' see what happens!" Dusty walked over and handed the jug over to Toph, "Drink up, partner! You just got hired."

[Toph Bei Fong]

Toph smiled, and finally allowed herself to relax. Now that the proving herself part of the whole affair was over, it was time to get down to brass tacks.

But a little booze first never hurt no one.

Toph took the offered bottle. "Thanks," she said, and took a long drink. The only sigh that it was tad stronger than she expected was an involuntary bunching of her toes, and even that was so brief that of you blinked you might miss it. "Man, that's got a kick. You gotta tell me where you got it."

Toph finally swung her feet back of the table. "But getting to the point, I've been walking up and down this whole city, and i think i got the tunnel system mapped out as well as i could. It did pretty deep at points so there are gaps, but look..."

Toph picked up her staff, and it began to shift in shape condensing into a ball, then spreading out into a large disk. She placed the disk on the table. Then her brows kitted in concentration, as her fingers played over the metal, here sightless eyes staring of into space while her fingers and metal bending did all the work.

"Here's the castle," she explained as she worked. A rather generic castle shape rose in the metal on the outer edge. Only a single line of tunnel connected to it. "Here's the town proper," she went on, with small numbs that were supposed to be building and business popping up on the surface, with the lines of tunnel weaving between them. Toph had never seen a spider's web, but if she had the similarity would have been obvious. "

"As you can see they're all over the place. But if you ignore all the circles, and follow a spoke," she traced one such spoke with her finger, "they all lead to this district before the go do deep fro me to feel More to the point if you draw a straight line from where all the spokes vanish, they all meet up in an area that's only a couple of square miles wide. Nothing there but a few bars, some empty shanties, and that whorehouse everyone in town seems to love. Still a crap load of buildings, but better than searching a whole town."

Toph left the 'map' on the table for Dusty to review, and leaned back in her chair again, a smug smile on her face.

[Dusty Dawson]

"You can buy yourself a bottle downstairs. Make it up ta Hudson for breakin' not his place." she smirked as Toph's toes curled. It was a pretty strong brew. Could knock most people right off their feet. But the time for drinks and good natured ribbing were over.

Toph took the staff she had been carrying and molded it into a very decent map of the city. Dusty glanced back at the copy she had tacked up to her wall. The two matched up pretty well, right down to the tunnels she had already set up. It was all very well organized.

"Musta been some sorta escape route." the detective ventured to theorize, "But that little ol' whorehouse is gonna give us a problem or two. If my memory serves me right, and it ain't failed me yet, the owner's pretty well respected. Now if we ask nice, we might get in. But if someone there knows what's goin' on, we'll be tippin' 'em off."

She leaned over the make-shift map and studied it closely. They would have to look around for a different way in. Running a finger across one of the lines she stopped at the castle and tapped it.

"There. The castle'll do nicely. Tricky part'll be finding the enterance." she gave a quick pat on Toph's shoulder, "But, I'm guessin' that's where you'll come in handy! I'll talk to one o' my buddies. She got a handy talkin' wolf that'll come in real handy so long as we're pokin' around. Not to mention she got enough pull to give us free range! No trouble from any castle guard. Slip in all nice and quiet like and see if we can wrap this up in one go!"

[Toph Bei Fong]

Toph blinked. "Talking...wolf," she repeated.

No way that was a coincidence. How many Sapphis Castle guest had a talking wolf for a traveling companion? She felt her face grow warm at the though of Calla.

Having no idea that a blush was visible on her face (for no one had ever told her what a blush was), she leaned back in the chair again. "Ah, the druid. Sablerose," she said casually, her voice betraying none of the excitement she was feeling at the prospect of seeing her new friend again. "That's a good idea. She's pretty well liked at the castle. The servants never seem to take me seriously. I guess a Baroness isn't an important enough title for them. But they're brainwashed into snapping-to for a princess.

[Dusty Dawson]

There was a curious reaction, when Dusty brought up the talking wolf. And nit the kind of reaction that is typical of bringing up talking animals. A look of recognition and then...

Well, Dusty had been a soldier. She worked with a lot of people and knew that look from whenever one of her fellow troops stumbled across a pretty face. The detective restrained a laugh, keeping it to a low chuckle.

"So you two are acquainted, eh?" she said, "That makes things easier. I know some other folks...they might come in handy, too...I dunno, I'm gonna have ta see what I can do with 'em. Might be good to have them above ground as back up."

If she was going after the heart of the Spider's whole operation, Dusty wanted to make sure it was a thorough extermination. And if that meant calling in a few favors, so be it. She didn't want some inconvenient destruction of a portion of the network, she wanted to be sure it would be something that wouldn't be easily brushed under the rug.

"You know anyone else that can help? 'Cuz we'll need all the help we can get."

[Toph Bei Fong]

Toph paused. "I do know someone... they doesn't exactly walk on the right side of the law though. But they doesn't strike me as underlying of the Spider either. Too much of a free spirit. That said, she's liable to have heard things in her line of work that you and me haven't And intelligence wins wars just as surely as troops do.

"I'll talk to her, see what she knows. Your bring Sunsh- er - Sablerose on board and we can meet up later to discuss strategy. Sound like a plan?"

[Dusty Dawson]

Dusty thought it over, for a moment. Would this person be reliable? Toph seemed to think so. She supposed that would have to be good enough. And if she could get any information that would certainly be a big help.

Dusty shot a smirk over in Toph's direction. "Alright...go an' talk to her." she said, figuring her earlier guess to be quite accurate. 'With a face that readable, I just hope she don't play poker.' Dusty thought.

"I'll get Sablerose up to speed. We should meet up someplace else, though. Don't want it lookin' like we're up to somethin'. Maybe somewhere outside o' town." there was a touch of excitement in Dusty. The case had been going cold, but now it seemed like she would be finally be able to move in and shut this whole operation down.

"I think we got somethin', here. Ain't gonna much more than a small team, but if learned anything back in the Canyon, it's that small teams can do a helluva lot o' damage!" Dusty grinned, "Well, partner, I'd say that wraps that up...you think you cam handle another drink?"