The raven looked on as the men stopped, spoke of things he had no context for, then left. For a moment, he considered if he should inform his mistress about this, then decided against it. They looked odd, but not that odd, and without actual context for whatever they were planning, it would be a waste of time to contact her. Still, it filed this little incident away, in case she happened to run into them later and asked about them.
There are those who might wonder why, when Tira learned from one of her raven spys that Gary was on his way to attend a party at the residence of the mayor's house, she had elected to show up and then somehow climb onto the roof of the building, where she planned to hang upside down as she looked into the building through windows to find him. She had a word for these people.
Boring.
With this in mind, Tira prepared herself, and then flipped over so that she was hanging above the Terrace upside down, head low enough to see inside the glass door. her large pigtails hanging downward as she did so. hanging onto the roof by her feet, she squinted as she peered inside, looking to see if Gary was inside. She saw a couple of other people, including the mayor, some blonde woman that was vaguely familiar, and some green haired woman, and she was plainly visible to them if they happened to look in her direction, but sadly she had yet to see Gary.
Lizard Metabolism
University
"Soliciting people for work, big guy?" Johnny and Mr. Piper were approached by a familiar blonde in a hoodie, waving at her - sorta - friend and the fellow professional. The lumbering shape of the Swarmlord prowled right behind Monica, four Rippers idly crawling around its shoulders. "And here I was hoping you're better than this." Despite the stinging words, it seemed she was teasing the muscleman more than anything.
This time, she was carrying the tools of her trade; an assortment of items and apparatuses needed to clear a place out of pests. "I've been called to deal with a rat infestation, I believe?" She addressed Piper with a raised eyebrow, hoping that he knew something about the deal in question. "Can you direct me to the place in question, sir?"
How do lizards fly?
University
"Well this is news to me," said Sebastian, rubbing near his temple. "I don't recall encountering problems with any rats. Do you know who it was that called you? I might be able to lead you to wherever you need to go."
The man did not seem at all perturbed by the presence of Swarmlord or its underlings.
edited 27th Sep '17 4:32:24 PM by CathariSarad
A lot nicer than her one-bedroom, honestly barely more than one-room house. Didn't see a garden, though, that was a loss.
Well, she did see that clown woman from yesterday. That probably wasn't an intentional decoration...
While she left the political discussion, considering she had little knowledge or interest on the matter, she headed over to Tira and asked "Are you comfortable up there?"
Coco Adel - Casa De Coco
"If you're curious, I can always get you a copy of the guest list. It's a matter of public record, after all. Just have your people call my people and they'll no doubt work their magic," Coco said to Victoria while putting Bethany's coat away in the closet. At least one of her guests knew how to appreciate the finer things in life, it seemed."Why thank you. I do what I can," she told Bethany as she started walking in. "Of course I am dreadfully lacking any plants to give it a livelier feel, which you simply must do something about."
"Most guests traditionally use the front door, but I have to give you credit for making an entrance," she said to Tira as she opened the door to the main terrace. What she lacked in decorum, she appeared to make up for it with her sense of style. A black ensemble with thigh-high boots and pink feathers, a shoulderless top with even more feathers on her shoulders, and silver highlights just about everywhere. Certainly flashier than the drab apparel some of the citizens wore. "Now do come in before the draft lets in all the cold."
"Ah, sure. Whatever floats your boat, pops." Quirking an eyebrow at the old man for a moment before doing as manner dictated and shaking the hand, Johnny then ambled back so he could pose a bit more for the creeped out audience in general. "So what else do you have for me then? Most people don't usually come and visit ol' Johnny unless they got something for him, uh-huh."
Coco’s Penthouse
Victoria raised her eyebrow a bit when Coco said “your people” but otherwise made no other visible expressions.
She also turned to look at Tira when she seemed to hang down from outside.
“I suppose I wouldn’t mind having a look at it.
“By the way, where is your… security officer, for lack of a better word?”
At around this time, the black car that had been seen near City Hall would stop outside the building Coco’s penthouse was in.
The man with the bowtie, who had been sitting in the front passenger seat, would hang up his phone.
These two men definitely were not on Coco’s invited list, and it was very unlikely that anyone at the party would recognize them. Still, they would walk into the building, and they would begin to make their ascent to the top floor.
University
The students seemed to back away as Johnny began to pose for them, most of them heading for the various buildings around the campus.
“You really shouldn’t harass the students like that,” said Mr. Piper. “Class is supposed to be starting pretty soon.”
edited 28th Sep '17 1:25:03 PM by CathariSarad
Jaroline/Nep- Grocer
Jaroline got back up.
"W-why are you here?"
"Oh, I just remembered you have an invitation to the Mayor's Place." Said the "human" Neptune.
"Oh, uh.. .Thank you?"
"Welcome."
Jaroline started to walk out, looked back, and didn't see Nep anymore.
''Perhaps I do have a concussion... No big deal, I've been hurt worse."
She got outside, and met up with Nepbike again
"There you are, you took a while."
"Sorry, I... nothing, Mayor invited us over."
"Oh, well, why we standing here then? Let's party!"
She did not make much of a note of the guy in the suit, and left the grocer.
Coco's Penthouse
Jaroline parked Nepbike, and went into the penthouse, the door flying like it did back in city hall once again.
"I'm here~!"
"Glad you can make it."-A teenage girl with purple hair and a black sweater and plus hairclips sat on the couch. At least to Jaroline's vision.
"You'd think I miss this?" Jaroline said to empty space.
edited 28th Sep '17 4:24:28 PM by Boomer75
"There ain't no harassing going on, pops. This is just... uhuh..." Pausing with hands behind his head while angling his upper body backwards to jut out his washboard abs, Johnny quirked an eyebrow at people leaving rather faster than usual. "This is just free advertising." Holding the rather prolific pose for a while as though he was a television program set on pause, the blonde then went into a more casual posture. "But yeah, I'll get since class is starting soon. There's more ladies out there with free time and I aim to fill that slot."
Lizard Metabolism
Girl And Her Bug(s), Uni
"I believe I was called by Professor... Phillips. Robert Phillips." Monica nodded, idly watching Johnny make an embarrassment of himself. At least he didn't feel it that way, so he was feeling good about it.
"He explicitly said that there are rats in one of the main buildings' basement. He didn't tell me which one, for some reason, so I'm kind of grasping at straws here." Then, Monica looked over to Johnny. "Oi. Wanna come with?"
The giant monster behind her, for lack of a better term, remained still and patient.
How do lizards fly?
Shalltear and Ainz - University
Its wasn't far from their residence to the University area so Shalltear simply walked. The young looking vampire strode through the sunlight like she'd never heard of vampire weaknesses. Today she had a different t-shirt, a stylized rose with particular emphasis on the sharpness of the thorns. Ainz was already parked in a meter'd parking space waiting for her. "Aiiinz-sama!" I'm glad she has picked up on the layout of the city. But I'm worried that if we can somehow get access to other Nazarick NP Cs how they will adjust. Shalltear took some time to really blend in. If Cocytus showed up out of the blue.. I'll have to think more about this.
Ainz acknowledged Shalltear's approach with a nod. "Shalltear, its good to see you. I found out about a different place today to try. I'm particularly interested if you like this type of food, Japanese sushi, its very similar to sushi from the Japan I'm familiar with.." Shalltear's eyes opened wide and Ainz almost chuckled. He had explained to her before that this planet had a Japan like he and the other Supreme Ones were from. The NP Cs seemed to remember their conversations among eachother in Yggdrasil even when they were still just NP Cs that only recognized specific commands. "I am not worthy of such a gift. I can't wait to try something that the Sup... that you and your friends enjoyed Ainz-sama! "
As they walked and chatted a little about Ainz's work, nothing of much interest today, Shalltear spotted the giant insectoid and his human companion once again. They were among others including Johnny whose name had been mostly forgotten by the pair. "Ainz-sama, over there. That is the pest control person and her comrade." The two approached the group. "Hello Monica, I am Ainz, you may remember me from city hall. I have heard some things from Shalltear about you." Not that much of it was good, or really bad about her. She suggested the Swarmlord could be a valuable ally. Ainz gestured towards Johnny. "You were at the meeting to I believe. What brings you all to the University?" His final address included the man displeased with Johnny but whose dialogue Ainz and Shalltear had missed.
University
Sebastian simply scowled at Johnny Bravo.
To Monica, he said, “Ah, Professor Phillips. I believe he works in the mathematics department. I’ll lead you right to him.”
To Ainz’s question, he replied, “I’m something of an assistant, though I find plenty of time to pursue my own interests.”
After that, Mr. Piper began to talk towards what was presumably the building holding the mathematics department.
Tira looked at Bethany, clearly confused at the question.
Of course I am! It's really boring sometimes to just stand around, you know? Plus the feeling of all the blood rushing to my head is good.
Then she looked at Coco.
Ohhhh, thanks! Hey, ms, where's Gary at? They told me he was going to be here, I wanted to see him!
As she said this, a raven flew over to the terrace, landing on the railing, squawking at her.
No, I told you, I wanna find Gary! This is one of those silly big places for rich people, right, I'm sure there's lots of weirdos in black cars and fancy suits and sunglasses who live in this place!
edited 29th Sep '17 10:55:29 AM by Meanken
Lizard Metabolism
Space Pest Control
"Ah, great." So it wasn't a prank call after all. Phew. For a moment Monica was worried that someone was trying to pull a fast one on her and lords knew she could use some money.
And then it got crowded when a familiar face showed up, accompanied by a less familiar, but no less recognizable one. "Hey again, Shalltear. Pleasure to meet you, Shalltear's Boss." She grinned at the skeleton teasingly. "And it's work for me. Rats. Catch you folks later." With that, she went ahead to follow Sebastian. The Swarmlord lingered behind for a moment, acknowledging Shalltear with a terse nod and giving one more to Ainz before prowling behind Monica.
The Rippers on its back pointedly stared at the lich and its vampire even as the lead organism walked away.
How do lizards fly?
Coco - Penthouse
"Ah yes, of course. You're Garrus's special friend," Coco said to the weird girl who had been messing with Garrus the other day during the town hall meeting. How curious. She certainly didn't call the hulking alien Gary. Victoria also seemed interested in the security officer's whereabouts for some reason. "He should be here any minute, I believe. Though you should know that he's not a security officer, he's a member of the city's police forces. No doubt he worries too much, attending such a casual meeting to keep an eye out.""Now then, you're welcome to wait on the terrace or inside, though if you'll forgive me I have another guest to greet," she added to Tira as she headed back in.
"Jaroline, wonderful to have you. Thank you again for the other day. Now, I trust you found a place to park easily enough?" she asked Jaroline, the woman making herself at home on her couch. "Unless you walked, of course. Hopefully it's not too far from your house."
Coco’s Penthouse
Victoria would briefly glance in Jaroline’s direction when she entered, and also when she seemed to talk to herself, but otherwise she made no remarks.
She seemed to listen as Tira spoke, tilting her head slightly with a somewhat neutral expression on her face.
Eventually, the two men in suits would arrive at the top floor. Once at the door to the penthouse, they would knock.
While waiting for someone to answer the door, the two men would look about idly, the one with the bowtie tapping in rhythm with the music coming from inside.
“You ever listen to this song before, Jimmy?” said the man with the bowtie.
“Sounds familiar.”
Inside the penthouse, Victoria would briefly remark, “Maybe that’s him,” at the sound of the knocking.
If no one came to answer the door within a minute or so, the man with the bowtie and sunglasses would speak again, “There some sort of wedding party?”
“Might as well check."
The other man, Jimmy, would then take a moment to adjust his tie and then would knock hard on the door.
“Miss Mayor, do you have a moment?”
She had zero idea who Gary, Garrus or whoever that was, and she didn't want to find out immediately.
So, with the sudden appearance of two people that seemed to be more properly dressed than she was, she was out of her preferred conversation partner,* which meant that...yeah, Jaroline.
Beth slickly slid up to the strange-but-not-Tira-strange woman and quietly said "Sooooo...where are you from?"
University
Mr Piper led Monica and Swarmlord to a relatively nondescript, multistory building with beige walls. The building seemed to be named Crawford Hall, as indicated by a number of signs nearby.
Aside from the few students still filing into the building, a man with a smooth, unsharpened, gray beard and glasses stood outside.
“Oh, oh my…” said the man as he looked upon Swarmlord and his minions.
“These two said you called about a rat infestation,” said Sebastian.
“Why yes, yes I did.”
The man slowly backed away, moving towards the door while keeping his eyes fixed on the strange creatures before him.
“I’ll be heading to my office. Try… not to make too much of a mess of things.”
The man who was presumably Professor Phillips bolted into the door and instinctively slammed it shut behind him.
Mr. Piper would then cross his arms and say, “I don’t think he’s gotten used to things as they are now. I’ll see if I can get a word in with him, though I really shouldn’t dilly-dally too long.
“I think you can take things from here?”
Tira looked on as Coco got distracted by the door and suddenly left, understandable enough. But Bethany's reaction was one she had seen many times, that of the person who was trying to be nice while clearly wanting nothing to do with her and fleeing as fast as they could without making the fact obvious. And so the upside down girl frowned, clearly upset.
I told you this was a stupid idea! Gloomy said inside her head. They're all the goddamned same, they think we're nuts, we're insane, they don't want anything to do with us!
But what about Gary, he-
He's just like them, you airhead! The only reason he tolerated you yesterday was because we made ourselves useful to him. I'm telling you, you're wasting your time looking for him, even if he doesn't try to lock us up or something, you really think he gives a damn about you? At best he'll tolerate you until you stop being useful, and then he'll try to lock us up the second we do something he doesn't like! None of them want to be friends with us, I keep telling you!
To anyone else, Tira would still be quietly hanging off the roof, still clearly upset and sad.
edited 30th Sep '17 8:13:22 PM by Meanken
2 Spooky 4 U
And as the two men in suits waited for their knocking to be answered by anyone inside, a certain fashionably late blue armor wearing alien would walk up to them from the right and stand behind the two, asking them, "You two here to talk to the Mayor?"
edited 1st Oct '17 6:59:25 PM by LightToAll
Just outside Coco's Penthouse but Inside the Building
After hearing Garrus speak, the two men turned their heads to get a look at whoever was talking to them.
The one with the sunglasses, the slightly shorter of the two, jumped back a bit shortly after facing Garrus, while the other one braced himself against the wall.
"Oh, uh, didn't see you there," said the man. "Uh, yeah, we were hoping to see the mayor. Trying to get ourselves some permits."
edited 1st Oct '17 7:44:02 PM by CathariSarad
2 Spooky 4 U
Garrus leaned back against the wall and let out a series of small, amused chuckles as he did so. "Something on my face?" asked Garrus jokingly to the two. The turian had long ago figured out that most humans have never seen any of his kind and he exactly wasn't the most pleasant looking turian either. Sure didn't make the reactions any less funny. But as officer of the law, Garrus had a duty to see what was up. Nothing that serious. After all, no criminal walked up to the Mayor and said, "Hey, can I have a gun so I can mug some people?" or anything. Most likely two business men looking to set up shop in Lakeside or something mundane like that.
And so Garrus asked the two, "Hmmmmmm....let's see.....Permits huh? What for? Looking to start a business in Lakeside?" and then he would sarcastically say to them, "Or is it gun permits? Because around here you will find those aren't exactly required. Turns out killer psychos wearing makeup inspires the call to arms for most people."
Outside Coco’s Penthouse, Waiting for Someone to Open the Door
“Something like that,” said the man with the sunglasses. “We’re looking to set up a casino up here in Lakeside, and apparently the boss already scoped out a place beforehand. Not that I think we’ll be able to make much dough with it, but the boss wants us to make sure we have the mayor’s approval before we set up shop.”
Jaroline/Nep- Coco's Penthouse
Here I am
"No problem. We're happy to help." Jaroline said to Coco
Not acknowledging the pronoun she used, and the Nep on the couch doing the "xnay on the eway" motion, Jaroline heard a knock at the door.
"I think it's for you, Mayor."
She then turned to Bethany, who asked her a question. After staring at the farmer-looking child a bit, she responded.
"Oh, I'm from out of town. Just was passing through." Jaroline said, all the more chipper.
Coco's Penthouse
"How interesting," said Victoria. "I'm not really all that acquainted with Alliance politics, but I figure change has got to start somewhere.
"Who else might be coming?"
edited 26th Sep '17 4:03:03 PM by CathariSarad