CG Investigations

[Play Back]

How long had it been since he met his new employer? That thought constantly went through Play Back's mind as he found himself sitting at his desk. He pondered how he first got here as he awaited a case...

~~~~~~~~~~~

Not too long ago he had been on a journey to find the one known as 'The Dark Hearted Man'. Somehow along the way, however, the child stumbled onto the island of Scara Brae, and found himself in front of a luscious tall building. Above the blood red door of the enormous brick monstrosity lay a simple wooden sign. "CG Investigations," Play Back spoke aloud, "I wonder if they could help me locate the Dark Hearted Man."

Without questioning himself the child knocked upon the door. Slowly, the red entrance opened itself, a loud and drawn out creak coming from the hinges. Play Back looked in awe as a man peered out from the corner of the door. This man had a long black mane of hair that was neatly placed into a ponytail. Play Back was always taught to make eye contact with any individual to whom he was speaking. Such a feat was difficult, for not only was this man quite tall compared to the teen, but his eyes were hidden behind deep black sunglasses.

"Can I help you," the man asked curiously, "or are you going to just stare at me all day?" This man's voice was somewhat deep, with a tinge of kindness laced behind the sarcasim. "Yes, I was hoping you could help me. I'm looking for somebody," Play Back spoke with a slight hesitation. Had he made a mistake in coming here?

"Robert," a deep voice said from within the darkness, "let him in. I've been waiting for him." Play Back blinked with the utmost curiosity. How was anybody expecting him, when he did not even know he would be here? "Yes sir," the man at the door said, as he opened said door up further for Play Back to enter. The child stepped into the dimly lit place and quickly became disgusted. The smell of mildew was spread throught the building, and almost made the child throw up.

"Upstairs, child," the deep voice said "do not be afraid, we are allies.' Play Back was not so sure about this, but looked at the doors guardian for approval nonetheless. "I'll guide you," the man said as he took the lead, prompting the teen to follow. He led him to a long staircase surrounded by torches upon the walls. Play Back found it funny that among the darkness, the stairs were the most well lit area. Following his guide, Play Back traveled up several flights of stairs and passed several doors along the way until they arrived on the eleventh floor.

The door on the eleventh floor was made completely of glass, and slid open as soon as the teen approached it. Play Back had never seen such a use of technology before. Walking further, Play Back came across a desk, and the back of a chair. "Such an honor to meet you, Play Back," the voice said, spinning the chair around to meet the hero, "My name is Sued, Sued Amad Daam." Play Back raised an eyebrow at this strange deep voiced man. His hair pointed in all sorts of directions, with each tip being a different, vibrant color. His left and right eyes were blue and green respectively. Play Back couldn't tell, but he was sure that this 'Sued' was even taller than his assistant 'Robert'.

"How do you know me?" Play Back asked this man he knew nothing about. "Your master called us," sued said, "he figured your search would lead you to us. As expected you are here." "In that cas, you know what I am here for then. Can you help me?"

"I'm afraid we have not turned up anything on this harbinger of chaos you seek," Sued said with a sad expression, "I do, however, wish to make a deal with you." Play Back blinked in shock of this news. "What kind of deal?" Play Back asked. "It's simple," Sued said, "your master also informed us of your...unique ability to see ones entire past. We could use a man like you here in CG investigations. In exchange, you will be monetarily compensated and use any free time you wish to continue your search, with our added manpower to your cause."

What a great offer! Play Back though, I gain at least two allies, possibly more, and I get paid as well! This is perfect "Mr Sued," Play Back said confidently, stretching his hand over the man's desk, "you have a deal." "I figured your answer would be as much," Sued said, "This, as you can tell, is my office, robert, my assistant, is on floor one, and you will be on floor two. It is the blue door with your name already on it. You'll find the lightning to be to your needs, and you have your own desk, filing cabinet, and all your basic needs."

"Great!" Play Back exclaimed, "but first I have to take care of that rancid smell." Sued laughed as Play Back went to Robert's floor to find cleaning materials....

~~~~~~~~~~``

Now waiting at his office, with a better smelling investigations agency, Play Back awaited his first avaialable case.

((Here's how it works. Your character makes an offer, and we (typically) accept said offer. It doesn't have to be a missing person, it can be any sort of quest or battle. you just place the offer here, and we make the thread later. One can also apply to become a member of CG Investigations.))

[Huntress]

CG Investigations.

Shindayru turned the name over in her head. If they were reliable enough, she might as well go to them with her problem. After all, finding that drokasa was proving more difficult then ever. Even so, Shindayru was still hesitant. Any individual investigation she had tried to conduct leading to the drokasa had failed, and she was getting dangerously low on resources. Soon she would be bankrupt, and she had no idea what the rates were like at this large, brick building that seemed it would tower over everything except, perhaps, the palace itself.

Shindayru finally stopped counting and recounting her dwindling supply of coins and entered the building, ducking under the low doorframe before it took off her head. As she looked around the entrance room nervously, a man who was slightly taller then her seemed to melt out of the shadow of the wooden desk and watch her with narrowed eyes like dark, bottomless pits. His long black hair was drawn back in a neat ponytail and accented by similarly coloured sunglasses resting on the bridge of his nose. She watched as he took in Sona, her stolen double-edged sword that rested across her back and the muscles she had earned from training with it.

His gaze finally met her own and Shindayru got right to the reason behind her visit. "I need you to find someone for me. I don't have anything for you to go on other then she's a wealthy woman approaching her fifties and she likes to have children do a criminal's work for her. However, rumors have led me here, saying that you're the best. Are those rumors true? Or have I wasted my time coming here?" She hadn't meant for that speech to come out in the way it had- rushed, almost rambling- but she had said it, and no matter how much she wanted to take the words back and start over again she couldn't.

Just like how she couldn't find that drokasa. Just like how she couldn't discover how many other children that were exploited. Just like how she couldn't do anything except die inside and hope that a new lead would pop up, while presenting a hard exterior to anyone watching. How her resolve was fading and she'd give up soon, succumbing to the little voices whispering to her, telling her that she'd been left alone again, all alone, and to end it already, just end it. Was she supposed to end her life or just the search? She wondered absently.

She was startled out of her reverie by the stoically standing man when he finally showed an indication of life. He beckoned to her with two calloused fingers, and led her to blue door that had two words printed on it in white, solid lettering: Play Back.

[Play Back]

When Play Back had heard the door open to the main office, he shot up from his desk. The teen ran towards his door, inching his ear to the glass as he tried to listen in. Apparently, this woman (at least, Play back assumed woman from the voice) was searching for a wealthy, for lack of a better term, pimptress. This woman was using children to accomplish her own selfish ends eh?

Good luck -not- finding someone exploiting child labor on Althanas... Play Back thought. Even the teen himself had been used by his mentor, and now by Sued. However, since Play Back was being funded now thanks to Sued's offer, the child kept his thoughts tucked into the inner most corners of his mind. After all, perhaps this case would lead Play Back to a clue about the Dark Hearted Man.

Play Back could not hear what happened after the woman had pleaded her case, but saw a shadowy figure approaching his glass pane. Rushing back to his desk, Play Back jumped into his chair. with a loud thud, the child spun around several times thanks to the mechanations within his seat before he finally grabbed his desk. trying to stop the room from spinning so fast, Play Back closed his eyes and tried to regain some composure.

"Come in," Play Back said, rtrying to sound as professional as possible, "the door is unlocked."

[Huntress]

Shindayru heard an obviouly forced deep voice bid her to enter. When she did, she was met with a sight she was appalled to see. It almost had her turning on her heel to leave.

"You're a child. I didn't come to play detective with some snot-nosed kid." But Shindayru waited. She'd give this wanna-be detective a chance to placate her. Fat chance he had of that, she thought. Geez, what had job qualifications come to? 'Must be capable of wiping your own bottom'? And I bet they made exceptions even then in this case.

An inadvertant noise, possibly of anger, came from the ridiculously posed form of the child. Oops, had she been thinking out loud? Oh well. Now was as good a time as any to establish boundaries. Shindayru stood her ground and met the covered eyes of the boy behind the desk. She wouldn't back down to some who probably weighed no more then 110 pounds.

[Play Back]

When Play Back heard this woman's words, he was very tempted to go off on her. It would be so easy to start a shouting competition with the older woman and get her to leave. Play Back knew, however, that CG had not had any cases in weeks and this was his first case. It would look really bad on the teen if he had rejected the first person actually offering him a job.

Stop thinking like a teenager and start being mature! "I assure you mam I am more than qualified to handle anything you have. While you might think of me as a 'snot-nosed kid' as you put it, I am slightly psychic." Play Back did not want to go through all of the details of his special abilities with her. One of the first things he was taught was to never show your full hand to anybody until you can trust them.

"If I were not somebody of high praise, I would not have even been given this job," by this point Play Back had went back to using his normal voice. Carefully articulating his words, he continued. "I am much more capable than what most adults give me credit for. If you are still not convinced, perhaps I could show you a bit of my telepathic powers?" Play Back did not want to use his abilities unless he had to. After all the child was forced to keep his targets memories with him as well as his own once he used his power.

"I would like you to give me the benefit of the doubt m'lady. I feel confident in my ability to help you in some sort of way."