Case (Sort Of) Closed ((Open))

[Dusty Dawson]

For someone who had just recovered stolen property, one Mr. Rathbone did appear nearly as pleased at it's return as Dusty would have expected. Then again, hiring someone such as herself to retrieve said property seemed like awful lot of trouble. It was, after all, a mere case of scrolls. Nothing about them seemed particularly important. Just the standard collection of spells and/or ingredients that was normally up for sale in Rosae Crucis.

She may not have been in town for very long, but it hadn't taken her very long to get a feel for her new surroundings. Each part of the city certainly had it's quirks. And a district specializing in the sale of magical goods and services certainly had it's share.

And when things went missing, it usually led to trouble. It was one of her first cases and it all had started out so easily. Now Mr. Rathbone was certainly kind enough to pay the agreed upon fee...but Dusty left the little shop, more than a little perplexed. Sure the goods had been returned and she was now paid. It was a hunch that told her this matter was far from settled.

Stepping back out on to the street, Dusty noted the setting sun. It was getting late and shops would be closing soon. Crossing the street she ducked into another shop. Although her client saw fit to end the matter, she decided that it was far from over. So, until he closed up, she would wait around...

[iphigenia]

Iphigenia was slightly distracted. The days had been moving quite quickly. She'd made some friends which was certainly a change of pace but she still hadn't gotten much done on either side of her mission objective. Still, right now it wasn't all that important. What was important was that she find some outfits that actually fit her without threat of falling off or being too small. She hadn't been having much luck. So far, everything she had seen was rather unpleasant. She wanted to show off a bit, admittedly her slightly sickly form wasn't the best thing to see, but she still wanted to look decent.

She now found herself in rosaeCrucis, she was quite unsure how it had happened. Many of the shops seemed to be closing up. She sighed to herself. No clothes around here. She felt around her pockets and pulled out a small slip of paper. Having lost several vials and used several more she was running low on the potions she had carried with her. Running out would be devastating. She glanced around at the closing shops and spied one that might have what she was looking for. She walked inside and glanced around. This place might have the ingredients at least. She sighed. Nothing pre-made meant she would have to do it herself, a task she dreaded. In the corner of her eye she caught sight of a woman with bright head of hair. It was a tad distracting. She had to wonder if it was natural, nobody back home had color like that, admittedly most of the brethren had shaved heads anyway.

[Dusty Dawson]

That fiery mane of hair certainly had the tendency to catch people's attention. Even back in her homeland, it could turn a head or two. But, as she caught the eye of a stranger, Dusty was busy pretending to be interested in the different vials of potion making materials.

She put one that she had appeared to be studying intently back on the shelf and moved back down the aisle. Passing the interested party, she couldn't help but make note of her sickly appearance. Casting a quick glance out the window, she saw the shop had yet to close up.

"Nice weather out there, huh?" she remarked to the other woman, "Can't tell ya how glad I am to have it start ta warm up!"

The statement bore a lot of truth. Coming from the dry heat of the Golden Canyon, Terre de Conte's winter felt a bit harsh. Luckily, the season was starting to change. On a whim, Dusty thought idle chatter would help cement the appearance of shop-patron. It seemed that she would have a little more time to kill before she had the opportunity to take a closer examination of her client.

[iphigenia]

"Wh-what? Oh yes. I suppose it is warmer, I hadn't noticed really." Iphie turned to smile at the woman with the bright hair. "I don't notice the cold much, but it's certainly good to get rid of all that snow." She pulled a small bag of powder and looked at it carefully. "I hate when they put it in bags, you can't see the quality or the full amount." She sighed and put it back among its comrades and pulled out a slightly larger one. "Wish they had larger bags too." She frowned and picked up three more bags. "So what are you looking for? I haven't known very many people who brew things themselves. Most just buy the stuff already made."

[Dusty Dawson]

Didn't notice? The folks of Terre de Conte must be quite the hearty bunch. She watched the sickly woman poke through one of the bags. Dusty wasn't much of a brewer, herself...but she knew a few good tricks. With all the time she would spend out in the dessert, it was a valuable skill to have in her arsenal.

"I've had to make do with less." she chuckled, "Still, if yer gonna buy, they may as well give ya yer money's worth."

A cover story was going to be needed very fast. Especially when a question was tossed her way, as to her presence in the fine shop.

"Oh, I'm just lookin' for a bit o' cactus juice. That stuff was all over the place, back home. Guess it's a bit rarer, here, though." she shrugged her shoulders, "Stuff has a helluva kick, but you can turn that into just about anythin'."

[iphigenia]

"Oh, well yes. I don't think I'm getting it, but I'm not sure where else to buy this stuff. I just figured since I was here I might as well pick it up since I needed some." She focused on the bags and humphed quietly. "Maybe I should wait for tomorrow when I can get some help finding a cheap shop." She turned toward Dusty again and, seeing her blink, suddenly remembers to do so herself.

"So, cactus juice. I guess it sounds potent." She paused, wracking her brain for any idea to what a cactus is, finally she gave up. "What's a cactus?"

[Dusty Dawson]

"Well, sure wish I could help, but I wouldn't know where ta begin, m'self." she chuckled and gave a shrug, "Anyhow, if ya got the time, then it seems like ya'd be able to dig up somethin' 'round here. I ain't ever seen so many shops like these all in one spot!"

Dusty certainly had to marvel at just what the good city had to offer. Quite unlike her homeland, such dense populations were almost never found. At least not to the scale that Terre de Conte had.

"Ya ain't heard o' one?" Dusty would have laughed, if they were in the Canyon. But, after her journey into the city, she guessed she couldn't have been that surprised. There wasn't anything remotely like the spikey plants in this country's agricultural repertoire.

"Well, they're big ol' green an' prickly fellas. Some o' 'em grow these flowers out the sides. Them's the ones that got the juice in 'em. Rest just got water...which, believe you me, still comes in mighty handy when you're lost out in the desert without a drop o' the stuff on ya! Bailed me out, once or twice!" Dusty had another grin on her face. She always did enjoy a good conversation.

[iphigenia]

"I see." In her mind she pictured a pine tree with flowers on it, it sounded quite pretty. "We haven't got much like that where I come from. Though we do have some trees that leak sap, though I don't recommend drinking that. Though some people have made syrup out of it. I've only had it once and it was quite good." While talking she kept focused on The woman's eyes, matching her blinking so that she wouldn't forget. She switched the bags to her left hand and held out her right.

"My name is Iphigenia Carrow." She introduced herself, the slight slur on her last name made it sound closer to Crow than anything. "I haven't met anyone like you before. What is it that you do?"

[Dusty Dawson]

The way the woman looked into her eyes was...strange. It wasn't as though Dusty was particularly bothered by it. Rather, she found it to be a curious habit. It also made her a bit self-conscious. She had been keeping an eye on the shop across the street. Dusty had to wonder if the looks would start to get at all suspicious.

"Haha, no kiddin'? Well, that sounds like somethin' I'd actually like ta try!" she said, getting back to the conversation at hand, "My name's Dusty. Dusty Dawson! I like helpin' folks out from time to time. Call m'self a Consultin' Detective!"

"I haven't met anyone like you, before."

Dusty liked that. And it sure sounded like a compliment, too. Even though she was still "working", the ex-soldier liked getting to know people.

"Folks with weird problems pay me to sort the mess out. Find stolen goods and whatnot. 'Least that's what I been doin' lately." she went on, "I'm sure I'll get other types o' cases, but at least it feels like I'm doin' real Magistrate work!"

Another good topic of discussion was her career. She spoke rather energetically and perhaps a little louder than the shopkeep would have enjoyed.

[iphigenia]

"I used to work with lost and stolen things too. Books mostly." She smiled, "But I'm just about out of that phase of my life, sort of takes a toll on you, you know?" She didn't know really, it was a fairly calm job set most of the time, the trouble she had was all before she was brought into the cult. Her smile twitched. "It's good to meet you Dusty." The tingling she felt in her hand began to crawl up her arm. She tried to remember if she had taken her medicine today, she couldn't. "Is there much call for a...consulting detective." She twisted her tongue around the words, they were interesting. "A friend I met not long ago was a bounty hunter and told me a bit about her work. I expect they both involve the same sort of work."

[Dusty Dawson]

Stolen books. It was almost ironic, seeing as hiw she had just been tackeling a similar matter. Despite the fact that Dusty was getting the impression it was about something more than a few scrolls. As those facts took a lap around her mind, she began to notice a few more odd details a out this Iphigenia.

"Feelin's mutual!" she said, "And I find enough ta keep me in'rested...And paid o'course."

Dusty perked an eyebrow up at the mention of a bounty hunter. And she arrived at a similar conclusion.

"I suppose. 'Cept they tend ta be more into people-huntin' aspect. Which I could to. Just haven't gotten a job like that, yet! Sure sounds like someone I'd like ta meet up with! I'm always ready for a new case!"

[iphigenia]

"She's rather nice, incredibly strange though. She's a baroness apparently. I found her near dead in a snowbank while I was making my way to the city." she was distracted again. Her eyes shifted away and she forgot to blink again. Her mind suddenly thought about what she would do now, the little amount of money she had stored up wouldn't last much longer at the rate she was spending it. She realized that after she did the last job for the cult she really had no clear plans for the future. She frowned.

"Sounds like interesting work. I doubt I could do that sort of thing. Chasing things down was never my part of the job." She slipped the bags into her right hand and put her left into her bag.

[Dusty Dawson]

"Now that's quite the encounter!" Dusty remarked. As Iphigenia looked away, the detective stole a quick glance at the storefront across the street. With the fading light, she could see a few candles had been lit to provide some light.

"Well, if ya ever reconsider, be sure an' looke me up!" Dusty rested her hands in her pockets as the sickly woman fished around in her bag. "I don't know when I'd need a hand or two, but I'd be willin' ta pay for any help."

She shrugged her shoulders. It was doubtful that Iphigenia would ever take her up on the offer, but it was genuine. Despite her questions as to the woman's health, Dusty was certain that her experience could be helpful in all sorts of matters.

[iphigenia]

Iphie thought for a moment before putting the bags back. They would do her no good immediately and she had enough to hold off another day or two. Maybe she'd be lucky enough to find someone who had them already made for cheap. Another glinting bottle caught her eye, the purple liquid seemed to glow. She had no idea what it was but she thought it would look nice. But she knew well enough not to just grab any old thing and leave it lying around. That was the path to accidental deaths.

"So, who are you following right now." She asked rather bluntly, her gaze focused on the glistening purple vial. "You're obviously not interested in the merchandise and you started up this conversation with no specified direction or question. That might be fine if you're in a cart with someone or stuck with them but you were just passing by." She frowned. It was a very nice looking vial. She wasn't sure why it was so catching. Probably the purple, she hadn't seen much purple back home.

"So you probably are following somebody or waiting for them, not that it's my business but if you plan to run off suddenly I'd like to have my reasons straight." Her left hand clenched rhythmically inside the bag, she ignored it.

[Dusty Dawson]

"Well, ain't I fool fer for tryin' ta pull a fast one..." Dusty chuckled and shook her head. It had been about as blatant as the other had so bluntly laid it all out. Giving up her pretense, Dusty turned her head for another look outside. Still no change.

"Hit the nail just about on the head, on that one." turning back, Dusty grinned again, "The fella 'cross the street there, he was a client o' mine 'till just a few moments ago. Paid me to find some missin' crate o' his. Which I did."

The grin faded and the boisterous tone mellowed out. Not that Dusty was showing any real signs of displeasure. Rather, her hushed tones were to keep things in a more private manner.

"'Cept, I don't think I really got what he was lookin' for." the detective continued, "Most folks look relieved when I bring back what they ask me to. Relieved, thankful...them sorta things. This guy? He looked even more nervous than when he hired me. That sorta behavior gets me thinkin'. There was more ta that, than just some box o' dirty ol' scrolls."

Dusty was quite excited, as was evident by the glint in her blue eyes. To discuss a case of this manner with someone as perceptive as Iphigenia was.