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Post by abzhz101 on Apr 5, 2018 23:58:06 GMT
You hear the pitter-patter of rain on the nearby window, a low rumble of thunder that honestly sounds like Thunderous is filling his quota for the month rather than actually into smiting something, matching your groan.
This just in, Mother Nature agrees, it’s too early for this shit.
But you groggily pull up, or slither onto the cold uncaring floor.
You slide out of your room and trudge along to the bathroom, barely noticing the (graffitti) “art” tagged along every square inch of wall. By the door is a notice of whom is supposed to use it when, of course in the end, it’s still first come first served.
On the 7 year old fridge that is now a rusty brown when it used to be white (you should probably think about replacing it soon) is taped a calendar. A trail of “X”s lead up to a slight chain of white followed by a circled date in red. “Rent Due.” Though there are four spaces of white, no one has marked off yesterday yet. Three days. You look over to the side of the fridge, an envelope sitting looking depressingly empty for where it needs to be.
The coffee machine begins chugging to life somewhat automatically, though you can’t remember who set the blend or more importantly when. But the smell assaulted the nostrils and The Brunnelby ear set above the tiny tv does nothing to help with the static of the somehow still on device.
Looking out a nearby window you can see the depressing grey overcast of lazy storm clouds meandering over the city. This constant drone and pitter-patter is both better and worse than the carpet bombing that yesterday was, but at the same time, now it doesn’t seem like this storm will let up sometime before dusk.
The ragamuffin array of sounds as your partners also wake up do little to tear you out of the feeling of normalcy and slight creeping dread that has been crawling over you for the last couple of days.
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Dec 31, 2023 21:54:10 GMT
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Post by Infynis on Apr 6, 2018 0:34:16 GMT
When the first to rise arrives at the bathroom, Chris is just leaving, her hair and body wrapped in separate towels. She always rises early. But that might be because she stays up all night writing and just doesn't sleep. She made her way quickly back to her shared room, glancing about to make sure Taylor wasn't lurking somewhere. She dressed quietly, so as not to wake her roommate, in a white blouse, navy skirt, and washed out yellow cardigan. The same cardigan she wore every day. She only had one.
Once she was dressed, she returned to the rest of the apartment, and got herself a mug of coffee with milk. Though, it was actually closer to a mug of milk with a little bit of coffee. "I think we should really get rid of this fridge..." she said as she closed it, to anyone that would listen. "It probably wastes a lot of energy."
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Post by ventix on Apr 6, 2018 0:44:43 GMT
Lilianna sat at the kitchen table, dressed in her usual sweater and blue jeans. She looked up at Chris as she walked in and sighed after she complained about the fridge.
"I know what you mean, but we can't afford to do anything about it until business picks up. We'll just have to deal with it and hope it holds out." She sipped some freshly brewed coffee from her favorite mug, courtesy of her Ralts, Angel. Though like Chris, hers was more milk than coffee. Lily glanced at Angel, who was currently sitting on the table eating a cookie.
"it would be great if one of us owned an ice type." She said with another sigh.
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Feb 22, 2018 16:53:52 GMT
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Post by technoRomancer on Apr 6, 2018 4:03:48 GMT
A light creaking as the rain briefly roared at the stained living room window announced Taylor's entrance, swinging in from above the fire escape with Bandit hot on his heels. The boy seemed heedless of how much he was dripping on the battered and threadbare carpeting, only a broad grin visible beneath the soaked and drooping hood of his sweater. He quickly peeled it off and tossed it onto the radiator on his way to the kitchen, then spun a chair around backwards and perched on the seat. His mood dropped noticeably at the sorry sight that greeted him. Cradling his head on his crossed arms over the back of the chair, he jerked a thumb towards his Aipom as the monkey dropped a large, somewhat damp paper bag on the table.
"Breakfast courtesy a' Mr. Artino," he offered, only slightly out of breath. Probably his usual morning runabout had been curtailed somewhat by the weather, though that never deterred Taylor too much. Bandit eagerly dug his whole head into the bag, coming up with a mouthful of bagel. "No tips worth checking out yet though," he added, and it was apparent he was trying to sound casual about it. As if the continued existence of the Agency might not rest on his ability to find them some work. No pressure.
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Post by Harbringer of Insanity on Apr 6, 2018 10:02:39 GMT
Misha gets up when she hears Chris leaving the bathroom, waving her a sleepy hello when she enters their room to dress, before leaving to clean up herself. After finishing up in the bathroom, throwing on some clothing, and waking a still sleepy Gabby, she heads to the kitchen, still yawning as she grabs herself a mug of coffee (black, not the prissy creamy stuff Chris and Lily prefer) and takes a sip. Sighing contentedly, she sits on the table, nabbing a bagel from Taylor as she does so. "Angel, you're the best barista this side of town," she mutters, her first words of the day, before taking a bite out of her bagel. "m'rning, guys," she says around the mouthful of bagel.
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Post by abzhz101 on Apr 6, 2018 17:53:47 GMT
They tiny Psychic type tickles most of your minds with what you're sure is the psychic equivalent of a blush. There is a moment of hope... and then sadness and defeat.
The pitter-patter of rain on the floor is stopped with a thump and "Pom!" This is quickly followed by a purple blur racing into the bag and snatching personal snacks away before anyone else could try for them.
Taylor, on the way in, you noticed a youngish boy, counting address numbers under his breath. He wasn't a regular of the district, and he didn't' seem to notice you.
There is a ringing sound. Right... The front door was locked for the night. You might want to do something about that.
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Post by Harbringer of Insanity on Apr 6, 2018 18:59:26 GMT
Misha has just about swallowed a bite when the doorbell rang, and her head whips toward the general area of the door before she shouts "Not it!" and looks expectantly at the others.
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Dec 31, 2023 21:54:10 GMT
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Post by Infynis on Apr 6, 2018 19:15:41 GMT
"If you all just ate ramen, we wouldn't have to worry about a fridge..." Chris mumbled nearly inaudibly into a bagel. "Good morning Mi-" she began aloud before being interrupted by the doorbell. The journalist gave her roommate an eye roll before standing. "I'll answer it."
Downstairs she twisted the lock, and slid back the bolt, allowing her to open the door. "Hello and welcome to the Baker's Street Detective Agency!" she said with a practiced smile, reciting her rehearsed, if seldom used, greeting. "My name is Christie. How can I help you?" She paused for a moment, waiting for a response, but then noticed the rain. "Oh...um...you probably want to come inside, right? She stepped aside tentatively, allowing access to the building. "Don't worry about your shoes. The- the office is right this way."
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Post by ventix on Apr 6, 2018 21:37:55 GMT
"Good morning, Misha. Also for the nth time, please don't talk with your mouth full. It's rude." Lily said, lightly scolding Misha before grabbing a bagel, tearing it in half, and dunking into her "coffee", letting it soak for a few seconds before biting off the soggy portion. After repeating the process for the rest of the bagel, she turned to Christie. "We can't only eat ramen, Christie. Sure they're cheap, but they're not very nutritious."
As soon as she finished her sentence, the doorbell rang. Lily started to get up from the table, but sat back down after Christie said that she would answer it.
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Post by Harbringer of Insanity on Apr 6, 2018 22:32:01 GMT
Misha sticks her tongue out at Lily, smirking. "You'd think you'd catch on after a while that I ain't gonna stop just cause you keep telling me to. Definition of insanity and all that"
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Post by abzhz101 on Apr 7, 2018 0:06:10 GMT
Christie, you see a pre-teen in a jacket slightly thicker than a windbreaker, but without a hood. He looks half bewildered and pleadingly at you as his hands crumple around something, it looks to be studier than the paper crumpling up nearby. His face is wet, though there's some streaks that don't fit to how the rain is falling. Even if he had his head up to look where he was going, which with the lack of hood isn't as likely.
He follows you hesitantly, almost as if he's not sure he wants to be here. Upon entering the office, he stands near the doorway, clenching and unclenching his fist while in expertly looking over the room. Things that draw his notice include the wallpaper peppered with (intentionally) poorly patched over gypsum. Memories crashes and bangs from over the years--the old chairs, and the "Big Desk" that have been in said room probably longer than you have been working.
From your perspective, he seems rather unsure of himself or what is supposed to come next.
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Post by ventix on Apr 7, 2018 0:06:11 GMT
Lily's eyebrow twitches. "Are you calling me insane?"
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Post by Harbringer of Insanity on Apr 7, 2018 0:19:52 GMT
Misha grins behind her mug. "I'm not calling ya anything, Lils. Just making an observation. What you make of that is all up to you."
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Post by Infynis on Apr 7, 2018 1:29:00 GMT
"Alright, will you just sit here, please?" Chris asked the boy, gesturing to a chair. She took a seat as well as the brawl brewed upstairs, next to his, not behind the desk. "Now, if you could just tell me what's wrong, I'll see what we can do."
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Post by ventix on Apr 7, 2018 1:34:19 GMT
"Hmph. I suppose that's fair." Lily says in an annoyed tone. She finishes up the rest of her drink and then puts her mug in the sink. "I'm going to see if Christie needs any help with what I assume is a client. Come on, Angel." She says, picking up her Pokemon and carrying her in her arms.
Making a quick stop at the bathroom for a dry towel to offer a potential client and/or visitor, Lily heads down the stairs and towards the office, stopping in the doorway. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but I thought I'd come down and see if I could lend a hand. I brought a towel if someone needs one."
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Post by abzhz101 on Apr 7, 2018 14:42:54 GMT
Christie, you watch as he lightly... "sits" would be a generous term, more hovers over the seat, though it seems more like nervous energy than a straight dislike. Though the potential client is still looking everything over as if thinking... Should I really be here?
When Lily walks in, you can see his jacket sleeve pull away from his hand, revealing a fresh bandage. The teen awkwardly takes the towel and after a moment of worrying his lip asks, "You guys are real detectives right?" Then he pulls out the item that Christie couldn't easily see before... a pet collar. "Please, you have to help me find Princess! I left the back door open yesterday before the storm and she got out... And I don't know where she is!"
Yes, your first potential job request is... Missing pets. These jobs often a bit grueling and gruntish, where you get more goodwill from the client and possibly the community than you do payment in money. In better days, this sort of job would be handed off to the juniors as a way to get them a foot in the door to the community. This is probably going to amount to a day or two of at least one person walking around combing the city, hoping to find the poor thing before it wanders back home. Even pet mon are typically smarter than what their "owners" give them credit for.
But with your current situation, can you afford not to try this?
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Post by technoRomancer on Apr 7, 2018 16:22:28 GMT
Face halfway buried in his arms as he munched on a bagel (his third, but hey, he had a monstrous metabolism), Taylor remained where he was, muttering a muffled "morning" to those who offered him one. His head perked up with the doorbell but he let the girls get it - typically Taylor didn't interview clients in the office, unless it got crowded enough the help was needed, and that... hadn't happened in a while. His grandfather had often bemoaned his indelicate approach to such interviews.
Maybe it was that kid he saw outside? No way he had cash to burn, but hey, a case was a case, right? Spinning off his seat, Taylor wandered far enough down the stairs to be able to overhear conversation and hung himself over the banister. Curious, Bandit imitated him, swinging upside-down by his tail. A lost Pokemon, huh? Even in this downpour, Taylor wouldn't say no some more legwork. Better than sitting around in the depressing atmosphere that had overtaken the apartment.
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Post by Infynis on Apr 7, 2018 19:29:43 GMT
"Um..." were they? "Yes we're real detectives. The Agency has been here for fifty years now." Chris glanced at Lily for backup, but continued. "Can you tell us what kind of Pokemon Princess is? And where you live?"
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Post by ventix on Apr 7, 2018 19:32:19 GMT
Lily put her hand on the boy's and gave him her best reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we can find Princess for you in no time at all." She said before looking to Angel. "Angel, can you tell Misha to come down here?"
Lily knew full well that this job won't net them much in the way of money, but she was hoping it would open the way to a more steady stream of jobs if they preformed exceptionally well. Still, three days was a short amount of time. The agency might not be able to rake in the full $1000 needed for the payment by then.
Hmmm...I wanted to read up on the process a bit more before trying it, but it might be our only way out of this... Lily thought to herself.
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Post by abzhz101 on Apr 7, 2018 22:54:40 GMT
The teen bit into his lip again, and became suddenly very interested in the floor.
You do here the slight murmur of, "Skitty." There is a long pause and then he looks back up at you. "I live in the first district... But found her collar closer to the Second."
In the city that is Castelia, the city is actually large enough to contain 6 separate voting districts all on its own. The six districts are all circular, radiating out from the circular park and roundabout that connects all of the main roads. Some districts, like the First are real modern, with lots of big shiny and new buildings reaching up and wide. This district, would comprise the north western portion of the city from that point of reference. All of it.
The Second district is right below it, and is noteworthy because it is the only district to contain both sides of a major roadway, and because it houses the Castelia Gym. This area is far more industrial than most, it's original buildings having been torn down and paved over to make room for large warehouses and other space saving buildings as the ports expanded but the city could not.
You are currently within the Third District. It has two neighborhoods, of which the agency is a member of the northern one. There has been quite a lot of debate about what you do with your district and its sister, the Fourth District. Both are home to most of the oldest buildings in the city... And are on some of the most choice land for development. Petitions and arguments over what should be done to these old buildings flow both ways.
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