|
Post by Circe on Jun 14, 2020 19:32:12 GMT -6
"That's all we ask," Catherine said reassuringly before moving onto the next item on the agenda.
They had largely stalled on their investigation into the Cedar Ridge pack, and still hadn't had a response on a warrant from the Council. They were likely trying to avoid some sort of political disaster, but it was probably too late already.
"We're still waiting on a warrant from the Council to investigate Mr. O'hara's apartment. There's still a few pack members at large as well." Getting the warrant was the only thing she was interested in that week. It would keep everything straight and theoretically above board.
"There's also been hints that blood magic may be involved, so I'm going to ask you Lieutenant and you Dr. Rahal to take this one."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 15, 2020 7:46:43 GMT -6
That was something he could definitely handle. "Of course. Are we in need of a tracking spell for it?" If so, he could do it because like called to like, but he really hoped that they didn't ask too hard about how the spell worked. He could, perhaps, do it without blood magic. It would probably be best to try that way first.
Perhaps some crystal divination. Swing a crystal over a map and where it pointed to was the location. That would count on their being only one location though, or at least a location with notably stronger blood magic. It would be a good start at least, to narrowing down the possibilities. The only issue he could immediately think of was if the blood magic was in multiple places and it read for each of them or got confused.
|
|
|
Post by littlekreen on Jun 15, 2020 10:10:27 GMT -6
Chrysanta felt Catherine and Rahal move through the building. If nothing else than from a sense of self-preservation given the risk of finding them both in the same room as herself would present to a continued heartbeat. She waves in lab coat and flats from outside a doorway across the room. Atop her head above the bronze eyes, the glasses lay forgotten.
This specialist area was quiet enough. She could be heard without shouting at least, "Hello, Dr. Rahal! Sorry, I can't be in the same room as the two of you at once. Speaking of pack members specified at large, I found one of your new unknown pack members. They were in a photo from the digitized paper archive of 50 some years ago. The NRPC fire of 1973 lost a lot of the other parts of that record. So I'm still trying to put a name to face. However, she's rather spry for someone with a Vietnam tattoo who's at least a 78-year-old lycanthrope."
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 15, 2020 11:52:35 GMT -6
Catherine had completely forgotten about that one particular issue when it came to working with Chrysanta, and now with Tyrus joining the team for a brief time, it would likely only exacerbate things. "I'm sorry Chrysanta, please remind me next time and I'll see if we can make this work better." There was a vast difference between how she handled things as the Warden and Specialist team lead, and how things were handled with the Court. Within MCU she was much more flexible, understanding, and interested in the wellbeing of each of her officers. Within the Dragon Court however, this would have often been construed as weakness and something to take advantage of. That didn't mean that she allowed anyone on the team to steamroller her however, and often she was the first to set a boundary with her more enthusastic team members.
"That's an interesting point, Molly, could you see if you could help Chrysanta pull the additional records? Let me know if either of you will need clearances." There were some records that due to their nature often were beyond even a Specialist's reach. That was where express and written permission from a Warden often came into being. It didn't mean that they would get what they wanted, but it definitely stood to increase their likilhood though.
"Forgive my asking this Warden, but don't many lycanthropes have shorter lifespans? I would have thought due to the stresses of the transformation and some of their other demographics that they wouldn't live much past 60 at least." Xiaolian commented. Lycanthropes were not something she had much personal experience with, this plane in particular seemed to be the strangest mix of creatures, magic, and their associated complications. It made her wonder if it had something to do with where they were positioned in space and time.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 15, 2020 13:34:45 GMT -6
"That's true." Tyrus agreed. "Seventy-eight...even if she made it there naturally, she'd certainly not be spry." The transformation was hell on the body. Between the transformation and the in-fighting werewolves didn't last that long at all. He was generally surprised Madeline was still alive, though she was ridiculously fit and that likely played a roll. Still, they both knew what her death would be, even if he didn't like thinking on the future fate of his friend.
"We may want to look into that as well." A spry werewolf of that age was using some sort of magic and normal magic couldn't do that. That was the simple truth.
|
|
|
Post by littlekreen on Jun 15, 2020 14:39:12 GMT -6
Though the MCU had a fairly long reach it only could touch law enforcement of its own kind so she explained as best as she knew, "The report itself is a sparse inter-departmental wanted notice from the TWPD with grainy enhanced telephoto images from the dead of night. I put enough of the tattoo together to wittle it down in the database to a texas vet in that era but not much further. Someone was eating wildlife without a permit but TWPD couldn't get her on camera poaching. So she's been their bigfoot project for a while. It's definitely someone with very inhuman night vision, evasion skills, and predatory instincts going back and forth to a location."
With a shrug, she turned to let someone through, "So TWPD might be a good start since I can't just pull their files if they even have them. Other weres were seen in the area but the feed of incidents I see from Dallas PD and internal for that part of the area doesn't seem organizational without something better to look for."
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 15, 2020 16:16:10 GMT -6
Xiaolian raised an eyebrow at Tyrus's response, she had been expecting to be proven wrong or have Molly chime in on how exactly she was wrong and where the gaps in her knowledge were exactly. Instead she said nothing and jotted down a few things in her notebook instead.
Surpressing a groan of annoyance or aggravation, Catherine resisted the urge to make a few choice comments about the jealously gaurded information. That's the way it always tended to be, interdepartmental sharing of records and information just wasn't something that was easily accomplished. "Okay so..." She started with mild exasperation. She was beginning to see that this wasn't going to be nearly as open and shut as she had hoped for. All she had wanted was a nice, neat and tidy bundle to handle the Council when it came time to close everything out on their end. Sentencing was something that the Council and the accused's lawyers could take care of, but MCU was most certainly going to push for some very specific charges to be added.
"... it sounds like we're looking for an immortal werewolf or at very least something masquerading as a werewolf." That one took the cake for weirdness of the week, there simply weren't individuals anymore who had the ability to weld the kind of magic that it took to keep one alive indefinitely anymore. Anyone who did try and reach for the magic was promptly eaten alive by it and burned to their very core trying to hold such power within themselves. 'Just what we need.. not.' She thought to herself as she tried to think through the next logical steps.
"Who might possibly be using blood magic, and Texas Parks and Wildlife won't share." Xiaolian added bluntly. Blood magic seemed to be uncommon on this plane, and also about as forbidden as necromancy. It seemed to her that it had only gotten that way when the hows and whys landed into the wrong hands, but that was just an observation.
Chrysanta's information however was helpful, but it also complicated things vastly. "Who wants to go try to talk to O'Hara again?" Catherine asked seeing how dismally short handed they were. It needed to be anybody but her given the proximity to the case. She really didn't want to find herself doing something she ultimately regretted, and even now she was still having second thoughts about what she had spoken with Izaak about. "I think he's not telling us the entire story and his lawyer is useless."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 15, 2020 16:29:20 GMT -6
"I'll do it." Molly volunteered. "I'm the only one with no connections with the vampire court at all, so maybe he'll speak to me." Or at least speak a bit more freely to her than he would to anyone with ties to the court. Besides, at this point she was the only regular specialist available. "There's no way he'd talk to Dr. Rahal. No offense meant, of course, but the enmity between the two species is somewhat legendary."
"None taken. Though there are packs out there that are much easier to deal with than the Cedar Ridge pack." On so many levels. Cedar Ridge was headed by a headache who had something to prove. It meant dealing with him was something that the court avoided when possible. If only because it simplified things to skip Cedar Ridge entirely.
Either an immortal werewolf or something masquerading as one. That was going to be interesting to look for. He wasn't quite certain where to begin though, especially if they weren't sure which it was.
|
|
|
Post by littlekreen on Jun 16, 2020 18:41:53 GMT -6
Chrysanta's bronze eyes examined the others for a moment. A sharp glance up after this saw her glasses put down to show green eyes now behind them. They kept her from accidentally invoking on people she talked to though sometimes still forgot.
A short breath of thought Chrysanta offers to Catherine, "I'm still willing to try and invoke honesty on O'Hara if you ask, Warden. As long as there's someone there in case of violence. You all are either strong or immune, but he might not be."
Not intending to complicate matters further she offered other possibilities for the behavior, "I would agree to presume some sort of therianthrope at least for the individual. Skin-walkers or any of the types of a fallen hag might produce that kind of large clawed injury and hyper-predatory behavior. Though fallen hags are more frequently illegal blood magic users. It would help explain the difficulty of getting them on camera if they can at least partly discorporate."
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 18, 2020 15:32:07 GMT -6
Catherine considered this for a moment, she was loathe to ask their only forensics tech to go ask questions. It just wasn't done, and would undoubtedly lead to difficult conversations with people later. More so why couldn't they have just sent a telepath? After all he had been arrested, placed in custody, and was now awaiting trial. Some would even argue that he had no rights now that he was being housed down in the county lock up. But Catherine would argue that there was something exceedingly unsettling about a telepath rummaging around in your mind, and it was only a last resort method. "You can try.. Bronson, take Townsend with you when you go. Maybe between the two of you you can get some sort of answer out of him, and for gods sake.. do not let him assault another officer."
Two for two was not something that Catherine was aiming for. Chrystanta, like Maria, was one of the physically weaker individuals of the team. Good at what she did, but couldn't take damage the way some of the others could. "That leaves you two it looks like," Catherine said looking over at Xiaolian and Tyrus. Surely those two could manage an investigation, couldn't they?
"I'll need you to go out to where the TPWD cameras are set up and see what you can find."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 18, 2020 16:10:50 GMT -6
"He'll stay handcuffed the entire time." Molly promised easily. She didn't intend on taking them off the werewolf at all. She also planned on keeping Chrysanta away from him as much as possible, so she'd have time to react if O'Hara tried anything despite the handcuffs and his lawyer being present. And his lawyer would have to be present, wouldn't he? That was going to be so much fun.
Tyrus nodded and gave Xiaolian a tight smile. "I look forward to working with you on this." A null and a mage working together. That was going to be interesting at least. Well, this entire punishment would at least keep him busy, as if he hadn't already been just that. It was, he reminded himself, only temporary and it wasn't Xiaolian's fault. So he'd not take it out on her. Instead, he planned on being an excellent partner, to the best of his ability.
|
|
|
Post by littlekreen on Jun 18, 2020 19:43:04 GMT -6
"It's not just him, but that's good enough for me", she agreed while pressing her glasses up reflexively, "I'll have to leave my revolver here with security unless they'll let me with an LTC. Molly will have to drive since mine will take hours to get past the checkpoint."
Chrysanta knew what she was getting into walking into a holding facility but she had earplugs or headphones to help against hearing shouted vulgarities phrased as questions. Ended up going with dad a few times when she was younger. Thankfully often detainees phrased rhetorical questions that she could get away with not answering. Though she ought to be able to wear the stab-resistant vest even if she couldn't keep the gun. A muse unseen didn't get to her late 20s by being unprepared.
The werewolves locally were quick to anger plus didn't much like the MCU but more especially this one. Though that lack of control she could use to his detriment. It took focus and creativity to lie even when her Logos wasn't burning that aspect of curiosity away while inspiring everything else. While unable to be dishonest she could at least prepare herself against certain questions on the way over. That was more deciding the best answer to the question that didn't deviate any more from the answer than possible. Though she couldn't be dishonest she didn't have to have a 2 for 1 sale with truthful answers to questions.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jun 20, 2020 17:38:37 GMT -6
"Of course." Catherine agreed wondering how she kept forgetting that one little detail. But that one little detail was what was important. "No one is allowed in with a duty weapon. It's policy, LTC or not." If someone got in with a gun or any other sort of equipment that the officers and even some civilians used in their daily jobs, all hell could break loose. That didn't stop some prisoners from improvization though, and some of the stories Catherine had heard were a bit disturbing.
"If you leave the gun in the equipment locker, it should be safe." Should being the word everything hinged on. Things had gone missing in the past, things that were often critical to doing their jobs or solving a case. She just to had hope that that wouldn't happen, but knowing the nature of Dallas it was very possible that someone could decide to "borrow" something for their own means. "
"A little over eager there Doc," Xiaolian replied to Tyrus rolling her eyes. She suspected that the Warden feared another incident like the previous week's, and was hoping that forcing the other to be in company of a null would solve the problem. Any bad magic would be grounded out and crisis would be averted. Reaching across the table, she grabbed a bottle of water and twisted it open, a glimpse of a tattoo visible on her right wrist. "Tone it down a few notches or the Warden might think you actually like us."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jun 20, 2020 18:16:42 GMT -6
"I'm not looking forward to that drive." At least she had her license, even if she still preferred not dealing with cars at all. Molly could handle it though. She just preferred not doing so. "We'll make a good team Chrysanta." Or they'd try at least, and it was the only team that they'd manage anyway. The others were too entangled in some way or another.
"I don't dislike you, which is good enough to work with." That would have to do. And she wasn't Molly, which was a plus in his book. Molly was young. Older than him, but so very young. He wouldn't say that he wanted to work with her or with any of them. It was simpler when they were coming to him as a contractor.
|
|
|
Post by littlekreen on Jun 20, 2020 20:01:16 GMT -6
Curly hair bobbed as the corner of her mouth rose for a chuckle, "Well, I'm used to driving the land whale, not your teeny sedan. We'll get along just fine the longer we work together."
A teasing shake of her head adds with a smile, "Don't worry I'll recover."
Though this was more that she got Logos feedback after close exposure to fae only for a while. A part of their psyche leaking into her own by virtue of inspiration. She wasn't sure what was happening when she got too near Catherine but it seemed self-preservation on both their parts if maybe not consciously on Catherine's part. Perhaps she'd end up a little more like Molly than the council might like if not for that it wore off quickly. Molly seemed like fun and amusement wasn't something she got a whole lot of holed up at home watching movies.
Glasses seated by habit said to Catherine absent an instinct of evasion to conceal, "Aright. I don't mind leaving them in the locker. It's just a mundane smith and wesson 500, not an Anathema, so it doesn't cause problems if I leave it here."
Anathema being a fairly archaic word for a particular type of bonded weapon passed down notoriously difficult to lose. Notably of those that hunt particular creatures as her adoptive father once was. Half-curses of magic weapons that rather than an expensive golem intelligence were creatures of wilder natural magics. They disliked being left behind, outside the territory of their adopted 'family', and so a tendency like any guard dogs to return there. Often by any means necessary depending on what they did. A problem which meant they had to stay locked in a vault as the natural magics slowly changed by being near her once Dad retired. He'd been known for having one or two but their number had grown in step with Chrysanta's house invading problems. Most of them Chrysanta didn't really know how to use. The security company she consulted for seemed content to pay her to be a kennel when the weapons stopped trying to wander off.
|
|