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[It sure is a night. Kim might be out here on the piers smoking, but he won't be the only one - a puff of smoke is what announces the rival of a certain other detective, in collared shirt and loose pants. He's got his pipe in his mouth, glancing around at the scene - in one hand is a wine bottle, though only 1/3 of it has been drunk.]
[He smiles at the other man.]
What a lovely night. It begs for the sweet song of a violin.
[He smiles at the other man.]
What a lovely night. It begs for the sweet song of a violin.
Edited 2021-09-28 16:09 (UTC)
Does it?
I think I like it the way it is now. Better than the usual noises of a city at night. You can hear the waves.
I think I like it the way it is now. Better than the usual noises of a city at night. You can hear the waves.
Indeed. I suppose its for myself more than anyone else. The quiet is most conducive for such a performance.
[And he looks out at the water.]
I've never lived near the sea. Visited a couple of times, but...I suppose the busy heart of a city is closer to my soul than this. But it's nice, though.
[And he looks out at the water.]
I've never lived near the sea. Visited a couple of times, but...I suppose the busy heart of a city is closer to my soul than this. But it's nice, though.
[A thoughtful pause, as he takes a drag from his cigarette.]
I work in Revachol's 57th precinct -- the Industrial Harbour area. Plenty of ocean, but the view isn't too pretty. Or the sounds, or the smells.
I work in Revachol's 57th precinct -- the Industrial Harbour area. Plenty of ocean, but the view isn't too pretty. Or the sounds, or the smells.
Industrial harbor,hm?
[A puff from his pipe, adjusting the wine bottle in his hand.]
Not altogether different from the Port of London, by the sounds of it. Though no ocean there. Simply the dark waters of the River Thames. [And a pause.] I suppose you find a fair bit of crime in a place like that.
[A puff from his pipe, adjusting the wine bottle in his hand.]
Not altogether different from the Port of London, by the sounds of it. Though no ocean there. Simply the dark waters of the River Thames. [And a pause.] I suppose you find a fair bit of crime in a place like that.
A lot of crime, yes. Smugglers, gangs, you name it. The 57th is always overloaded with cases.
[He thinks...]
What sort of a place is London, if you don't mind my asking?
[He thinks...]
What sort of a place is London, if you don't mind my asking?
London....you could write a book on that city of cities.
[He exhales, his breath tinged with the smoke of his pipe.]
It is the hub of the British empire. It hosts the Houses of Parliament, standing tall and proud among the backdrop of rows and rows of buildings and factories alike. It holds great railway stations and piers on the river with boats, receiving visitors the world over. It is the center of the literary world, and its many publications are sent to numerous countries to enjoy and read.
[And then a pause. His gaze lowers.]
But for all its beauty, its splendor...it is a dark, dark city. A foggy city. And within that fog lies twisted back alleys and shadowy quarters. The light from the achievements of our government only make the poverty, grittiness and grime stand out all the more. Burglary, missing persons, murder...it all stands as part of a massive web throughout the city. And that is precisely why I must live in a place like that. To snip the threads where I can.
[He exhales, his breath tinged with the smoke of his pipe.]
It is the hub of the British empire. It hosts the Houses of Parliament, standing tall and proud among the backdrop of rows and rows of buildings and factories alike. It holds great railway stations and piers on the river with boats, receiving visitors the world over. It is the center of the literary world, and its many publications are sent to numerous countries to enjoy and read.
[And then a pause. His gaze lowers.]
But for all its beauty, its splendor...it is a dark, dark city. A foggy city. And within that fog lies twisted back alleys and shadowy quarters. The light from the achievements of our government only make the poverty, grittiness and grime stand out all the more. Burglary, missing persons, murder...it all stands as part of a massive web throughout the city. And that is precisely why I must live in a place like that. To snip the threads where I can.
[He listens, letting that soak in...]
I suppose I can understand that.
Is there any particular reason you chose to become a private detective? As opposed to, say, joining the police.
I suppose I can understand that.
Is there any particular reason you chose to become a private detective? As opposed to, say, joining the police.
For one, they can't stand me. Ahahahaha-!
[He lets out that characteristic obnoxious laugh, but he doesn't let it linger, just smirking slightly to himself.]
But no, it's more that I rather tripped into the thing, and found that solving the cases of those brought to me was just the thing to stimulate the mind. I can apply my methods of logic and deductive reasoning and pull out the solution where it might be hidden. There's nothing like it in the world. And I don't quite care for the limitations of the force, though they do their jobs well as they possibly can.
[He lets out that characteristic obnoxious laugh, but he doesn't let it linger, just smirking slightly to himself.]
But no, it's more that I rather tripped into the thing, and found that solving the cases of those brought to me was just the thing to stimulate the mind. I can apply my methods of logic and deductive reasoning and pull out the solution where it might be hidden. There's nothing like it in the world. And I don't quite care for the limitations of the force, though they do their jobs well as they possibly can.
[He doesn't react to the obnoxious laugh, stone-faced as always.]
Never thought detective work was something one could just "trip into"...
Never thought detective work was something one could just "trip into"...
[A huff.]
Sometimes, when you find something that you can apply your skills and expertise to....well, it just becomes elementary to pursue it further.
Sometimes, when you find something that you can apply your skills and expertise to....well, it just becomes elementary to pursue it further.
Must be nice. Most people don't get that sort of opportunity.
...
[He looks away for a moment.]
It certainly is a once in a lifetime sort of thing. I'm glad that I have the means to do it, and pursue what I like. Things weren't always so easy. [And then, he turns back.] Ah, but now I'm curious. I must return a similar question to you. What got you into this line of work to begin with, Lieutenant?
[He looks away for a moment.]
It certainly is a once in a lifetime sort of thing. I'm glad that I have the means to do it, and pursue what I like. Things weren't always so easy. [And then, he turns back.] Ah, but now I'm curious. I must return a similar question to you. What got you into this line of work to begin with, Lieutenant?
[His gaze drifts upward, to the sky.]
I joined the force when I was 23. I was young, idealistic, and felt I had something to prove. A "true blue" moralist who believed in the system.
I joined the force when I was 23. I was young, idealistic, and felt I had something to prove. A "true blue" moralist who believed in the system.
...
I can't help but notice the use of past tense there, Lieutenant. What changed?
I can't help but notice the use of past tense there, Lieutenant. What changed?
Nothing dramatic. Just time and experience. The Moralintern -- the international government, essentially -- isn't all bad. But it is rife with bureaucracy, and there is only so many times you can hear that "things will get better in 10 or 20 years" before it starts to sound hollow. Especially as the decades come and go.
Right now, the only thing I believe in is the RCM. In the officers I work alongside with. Every system of government may have failed our city, but we won't.
Right now, the only thing I believe in is the RCM. In the officers I work alongside with. Every system of government may have failed our city, but we won't.
So essentially, it all runs up against corruption, stagnation, and the unwillingness to change...
[Which is the opposite of who he is, as a person. He can't envision running up against a system like that for too long without going mad.]
Well, if you must have trust in something, having trust in the people around you is a strong place to start. It's a solid strategy, Lieutenant. I truly hope your efforts will succeed. People need people like you.
[Which is the opposite of who he is, as a person. He can't envision running up against a system like that for too long without going mad.]
Well, if you must have trust in something, having trust in the people around you is a strong place to start. It's a solid strategy, Lieutenant. I truly hope your efforts will succeed. People need people like you.
[Hello, fellow smoker - Sholmes is out here with his pipe, dressed back in his regular detective wear. Irene is at his side, in beagle form.]
[When he sees Kim, he just gives a twirl of his hand, and a bow.]
[When he sees Kim, he just gives a twirl of his hand, and a bow.]
Mr. Sholmes. [He lifts his cigarette-holding hand in a wave. The other hand holds his open notebook.]
Despite all the oddities in the investigation... today seems to have been a success. We should all be glad of that.
[Kim's not a very expressive guy, but the tone of his voice is a little lighter, compared to his usual dryness. He sounds pleased.]
Despite all the oddities in the investigation... today seems to have been a success. We should all be glad of that.
[Kim's not a very expressive guy, but the tone of his voice is a little lighter, compared to his usual dryness. He sounds pleased.]
[He nods, also looking pleased, and pulls out a piece of paper, writing down quickly before showing it to him.]
["Still rhyming. But yes, I am very glad too."
["I'm glad we didn't put Sheba in undue danger."]
["Still rhyming. But yes, I am very glad too."
["I'm glad we didn't put Sheba in undue danger."]
Yes. [He looks a little more serious now.] If we'd made a hasty decision, it would have been very bad. It's good that most people were willing to wait for more evidence before jumping to conclusions.
It was the smart thing to do. But people are rarely "smart" when under pressure.
It was the smart thing to do. But people are rarely "smart" when under pressure.
[His mouth twists to the side with "most people". Probably remembering Van Zieks and his chalice tossing...]
[But he nods.]
["Evidence is easy to fake. But logic and reasoning must stand before all else, even if everything seems to point excessively to one truth. I understand that it was quite stressful for all of us. We did well today. Very happy for that."]
[But he nods.]
["Evidence is easy to fake. But logic and reasoning must stand before all else, even if everything seems to point excessively to one truth. I understand that it was quite stressful for all of us. We did well today. Very happy for that."]
Agreed. [A nod, and he looks back down at his notes.]
I'm glad I'll be able to mark one of these case files as "solved." Although...
[There is one last thing. He hesitates to say...]
The investigation went so quickly, there was one field I didn't have time to fill in. Perhaps you could help with it.
I'm glad I'll be able to mark one of these case files as "solved." Although...
[There is one last thing. He hesitates to say...]
The investigation went so quickly, there was one field I didn't have time to fill in. Perhaps you could help with it.
...
[He's curious, but he sets his expression, and gives a nod as he writes it down.]
["I am at your service. What is it?"]
[He's curious, but he sets his expression, and gives a nod as he writes it down.]
["I am at your service. What is it?"]
[He exhales, blowing a steady stream of smoke into the night air.]
If you were to give this case a title, what would you name it?
If you were to give this case a title, what would you name it?
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