IV／Curiosity Killed The Cat

[puppeteerings]

[Action; 1765 Beaver Street]

[So today you were just minding your own business, passing by Beaver Street for some reason, when you spot a large orange suitcase just.

Comments

[answerer_sword]

[Bazett notices the suitcase sitting out on the sidewalk. She wonder why it has been left there. She walks around it, trying to see if there is anything strange about it. After she decides that it seems to be a normal suitcase, she grabs the handle and lifts it up to see if there is anything inside. From the weight, it is obvious that the suitcase is not empty.]

[Out of sheer curiousity, she reaches for the hatch and tries to open it...]

2!

[puppeteerings]

[It weights a bit heavy, but otherwise looks and feels like a completely normal suitcase.

It also clicks open without problem, although...

The bright flashing of multicolored lights and the sudden explosion of confettis may be more of an issue, which Bazett will be receiving in her face. Hopefully something not unlike a cheap trick out of a prank device wouldn't trigger too extreme a reaction...?]

Re: 2!

[answerer_sword]

[Bazett rubs at her eyes. It seems the owner has programmed a booby trap into their suitcase. However, whateever is inside is probably not too important, seeing as how the booby trap is only annoying and not colorful.]

[Once her eyes regain their proper function, she will try to further inspect the remaining contents of the now opened suitcase.

[puppeteerings]

[There might have been something in there before, but after the lights fade and the pieces of confetti fall onto the ground, what's left in the open suitcase...

Is nothing at all.

She can look at it however she wants, it's completely empty now. The confetti pieces may be the only thing around that could've possibly hinted otherwise. Try to investigate more, ponder on it for a bit longer, maybe close it back like it was, or just decide to turn around and leave altogether? There could be something else that she can do, but hm...]

[answerer_sword]

Huh...

[The suitcase had felt too heavy for something that only contained confetti. Therefore, she will proceed to feel the inner lining of the suitcase to see if there is anything contained under the material.]

[puppeteerings]

[...

It still looked empty no matter which angle you look at it from, although before Bazett ca examine it as thoroughly as she'd have liked, a voice will speak up from farther down in the street.

It's a redheaded woman wearing glasses, with her hair tied back in a ponytail. She's donned in an orange coat, and is giving Bazett a curious look.]

Are you looking for something, miss? [Her eyes dart down to the suitcase, and then back to Bazett.]

[answerer_sword]

[The voice surprises her. She slowly stands up and turns around.]

No. I was simply curious as to the contents of this suitcase.

[Then she gets a closer look at the woman.]

Aozaki Touko?

[Due to her accent, though, the name gets slurred into 'Ahzaki Touko' with a strange emphasis on the 'Tou.'"

[puppeteerings]

Even if it's not yours? That's in bad taste, miss. [Although she doesn't look offended...

But that'll cause her to blink in surprise.]

Eh? You know me? [Touko's exceptional attention to detail and her good memory makes it so that she never forgets anything. And this woman...

She's sure they haven't met. She's also hid from the world for the last half a decade, at the very least. So how...?]

[answerer_sword]

It was left by the side of the road. It did not appear to belong to anyone, so I decided to try and investigate it.

[She has indeed never met the woman, but the Association does have her photo on file.]

I saw your photo in one of the Association's files. It..also came with some notes regarding you and your sister Aoko...

[Something about funds, but she does not know the details from the one time when she had quickly browsed the file.]

[puppeteerings]

[Although those photos would be her in her Academy years, her appearance has changed since................

That does set her on guard, although she doesn't show it right away. Her life at the academy was behind her, Touko's turned her back on that after she received a sealing designation for her work. Araya was still trying to reach the Origin last they spoke, but Touko's abandoned that goal a long time ago. If this woman is linked with the Association...]

Odd. The last bit of information they should have on me would be dated at least over 5 years ago, it's been a while since. [A small sigh as she shrugs. Some things make Touko's day, mentions of her sister isn't one of them.] I don't like to be recognized when I don't know who I'm speaking to, but I suppose it can't be helped. Who would you be, other than being a member of the Association? [She's going to light a smoke now, too.]

[answerer_sword]

[It was actually a guess, seeing as how her appearance had changed from her last clearly recognizable photo. The subsequent photos could were too blurry to be recognized as the woman, but they did bear a resemblance to her current appearance.]

Bazett Fraga McRemitz. I am a Sealing Designation Enforcer, but my current mission does not focus on you.

[The Association is not present here. Even if she could defeat and restrain the woman, there is no place that Bazett can take her back to.]

[puppeteerings]

[She simply stares with a blank expression, before...

Finally giving a small shrug.]

That's good then, if you're telling the truth. I'd rather not have to fight if I can avoid it, you can't kill me here or take me back anyway, miss McRemitz. But isn't that rather candid of you, to out your role as an Enforcer right away?

[answerer_sword]

We have no reason to conceal our identities here. Besides, given our close proximity, it would only be a matter of time before we found out each other's identities anyway.

[puppeteerings]

That's true too, as long as you realize it's unnecessary. Counter-productive even, to take your role back home here seriously. Have you been here for long, out of curiosity?

[answerer_sword]

I have only been here for a month or so. Have you been here long?

[If she had been, then that could explain why the Association had a harder and harder time of tracking her as time went on.]

[puppeteerings]

It's been over half a year. I have seniority over you here, it would seem. [A small shrug, but you'd be wrong about that, Enforcer. Touko Aozaki could've stayed hidden for much longer, even if this was back in their world. A powerful magus has their ways, after all.

That said.] You should know what that means, right? [Though whatever she may be implying, Touko seems pretty at ease.]