Welcome, reader, to the latest Character Development Thread! These shared story exercises help budding writers develop their characters alongside the characters of other budding writers. No formal sign-up is necessary; one can simply jump right in. Just make sure to review the OP and the last few pages first.
If the length of the thread has become a bit daunting and you need a recap, or if you simply need another question about the threads answered, just post in the discussion thread
and we’ll do our best to help you out.
This particular thread focuses a bit more heavily on character interaction than usual. It is recommended, though not required, that your characters come with specific goals in mind.
Many thanks go to nrjxll, Killer Clowns, SolipSchism, Corvidae, electronic-tragedy, Darkblood Carnagefang, Strix Obscuro, Gault, Night, and gameknight102xx, among others, for helping to prepare the thread.
Somewhere in the vastness that is the multiverse, there lies a great city. Born from a mix of modern technologies and ancient magic, it has become a crossroads between many different realities, resulting in a wonderfully varied populace and a mostly near-futuristic cityscape.
This shining Capital prides itself on being a place of opportunity. It’s up to the inhabitants to make something of it.
- Current Time: Night (~10:00 PM)
- Current Weather: Cloudy
edited 12th Oct '15 12:20:03 PM by Yomegami
[New City - Outside Meiko's Cafe]
The cloaked being bowed to Sophie again. "All the same, your kindness to a stranger in distress is much appreciated, young lady," it said in its sepulchral voice. That voice took on a very faintly dry note. "Particularly when it is such a 'creepy' being as myself."
It began shuffling in the direction of the bus, though it moved very slowly. After a few moments, the hood turned to look back at the girls. "Perhaps I can repay you in some way..."
[Waterfront (South of Museum Park)]
Qrlil tilted her head. "I suppose you both are," she agreed. "Perhaps I should even buy something myself, just for symmetry." That was mostly a joke - she didn't want to spend any more than she needed to here, and her robes could provide more or less any appearance she or the others wanted, but she decided she'd keep an open mind.
She checked her backup again. "I have found several nearby results to my search," she announced. "Just a block away is an open-air bazaar similar to the one up on Market Street, if either of you have been there, though it is of course smaller. It is located in front of something called" - she pronounced the name with a certain dry skepticism - "'Crazy Gary's Surfin' Store', which is at least two stories but sounds somewhat... dubious. If both of those are problematic, there is also a more focused beach-wear store one further block from them."
Deciding that they should waste no further time if they were going to enjoy the beach, she began walking along the boardwalk to the east. After a moment, though, she stopped and turned back to look at Angua.
"If I may ask... are you all right? You have seemed somewhat hesitant in the last few minutes."
Going to wait until tomorrow for Gev, since there seems to be an issue that needs clearing up and I prefer to post for both participants in the car chase at once anyway.
edited 21st Jul '15 12:21:45 AM by nrjxll
West Side - Seon and Gwion.
Law enforcement?! Gwion closed his eyes briefly. What have I got myself into, here?He looked at Seon. "Have you broken any local laws that I should be aware of? Or is this shvuim following you from your Federation?" The distinction could make all the difference in the world.
While he was mulling over the ramifications of what Seon had said and wondering how jurisdictions would work here - it was messy enough on Earth, and that was just one planet - his Personal Office chimed - number withheld.
It was the hacker again with more information. She had managed to determine that the reddish-haired man was using some sort of sheet as a tracking device but, from the way that he was using it, it looked more like magic or psionics than technology.
"Fuck! Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck!" This place kept throwing him curve balls. He understood technology and knew that it could possibly be jammed, but what could you do to counter magic or psionics? Get another magician or psychic?
He turned to Seon. "It seems one of our pursuers is a magician or a psychic and is able to track us anywhere we go. Which explains how they managed to track us to Mr Jackson's place. I also means that even if we do succeed in delaying them, they'll eventually turn up wherever we are - at your meeting with the Resistance, at the hotel, wherever. If they are law enforcement, then they may well have the full weight of the law on their side - unless it's just some corrupt cops from your Federation operating outside their jurisdiction, in which case they may well be arrested soon."
West Side - In Pursuit of the Autocab - Officers Donnelly and Markham
Officer Donnelly watched grimly as the autocab accelerated and recklessly took a corner, cutting off three other vehicles and almost causing at least one accident. "Call it in, will ya." When I get that idiot driver, I'm going to throw the book at him.
Officer Markham called through to advise that they were in pursuit of the stolen autocab and request other units to converge.
While Markham was on the radio, Donnelly took the corner rather more carefully and continued pursuit. The autocab's reckless manouevre had given it a bigger lead but it couldn't outrun radio.
West Side - Autocab - Roderick's phone
The police officer who answered Roderick's call was audible through the phone. "Your identity is acknowledged Officer Burke. However, I have no notification of any pursuit nor of any commandeering of an autocab. The report we received came from a personal protection specialist who is seems to be under the impression that he is being pursued by unidentified assailants in a stolen autocab. "Who is this 'known criminal supplier' of whom you speak and, for that matter, who is this 'Lieutenant Abassix'? I have no notification of any such person being authorised to mount a pursuit. The report mentioned three people in the autocab, please identify the third."There was a pause. "I have received word from car 306 that the driver of the autocab has not only failed to respond to a police hail, but is driving in a reckless manner and endangering other traffic. You are requested to bring the car to a complete halt in a safe manner and standby for local officers, otherwise measures may be taken to stop the vehicle."
Market Street - Open Air Bazaar - The Not-Chaos-Hunters and Terra Novans
I'm not lazy :PBefore James could answer, Wolfe chimed in. "Oh, he'd have to, most definitely."
James grinned. "But only slightly. And only if he told that joke about plugging his electric blanket into the toaster socket and popping out of bed all night long."
Wolfe licked the last of his custard square off his fingers and nodded. "Good thing I didn't tell that one then. Or the breakfast one."
Teri turned to Marie and smiled. "No, we wouldn't really stab someone - not even if he did - for example and completely hypothetically - tell the same old jokes every fucking time we even pass a hotel."
Kris looked up from her browsing. "The breakfast joke. That'd be the one where he orders two eggs - one dry and crumbly, the other half raw and runny - burned sausages, half-raw greasy bacon, cold baked beans and a tepid coffee."
Teri nodded. "The same."
"Well," said Kris, "bloody good thing he didn't tell it then."
Wolfe looked at Adam and Marie. The way the young lad had been scoffing his crepe was terrifying, like he hadn't eaten in a month and wasn't sure that he'd get to eat tomorrow. "Now that we've stuffed our faces, what else shall we look at?"
[WEST SIDE (NEAR WHITEHALL MOTEL)]
Lara blinked at the drone's sudden departure. Did it actually just obey her?
Soon, her confusion was cut short by the mechanical stomping. Lara looked on in awe at what could only be Sabaoth's mech approaching.
Lara gave a start at the car's sudden "accident" - as that's how it appeared to her - only to calm down and shake her head at the idiot's clumsiness. As it followed through with crushing the vehicle into oblivion, however, Lara began to feel intimidated. For the first time in years, she began to think she had bitten off more than she could chew.
At least with her past experience, there was a facade in front of the person, but this machine wasn't even bothering to feign decency.
When it finally addressed her, she took a moment before responding.
"S...So you knew I was coming. Then you must be...Sabaoth?"
Eliza, everything you've told me about this man wasn't even close to enough!
edited 21st Jul '15 5:09:40 AM by TroPartner
[West Side (Autocab)]
Roderick barely managed to hold in a sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Pull over," he muttered to Kevin. "We'll have to catch them later."
Into the phone, he said, "I apologize, but normally, I do not need to notify anyone about my actions." Which you would know if you'd properly identified me; I am an Honor Guard, after all. "The third person, our driver, is a detective assisting us. Kevin Montgomery. He accelerated because we saw the fugitive getting away."
[West Side (autocab)]
Kevin tried to flush out the phone conversation as he was focused on gaining on the targets. Though he had broke several traffic laws already, he tried to not endanger anybody else. We're getting close. We've almost got them.
But, he heard what Roderick said. The detective grimaced.
He shouted, "Goddammit. That's what they want." But he knew he was no loose-cannon cop. He clenched his teeth and sighed, and slowed the cab to a stop at the side of the road. Seon and his bodyguard can breathe for a few minutes, but that's all.
edited 21st Jul '15 8:17:36 AM by electronic-tragedy
Life is hard, that's why no one survives.[Waterfront]
Angua looked briefly surprised, almost as if she were about to deny it, then heaved her shoulders and said, "You noticed that, did you? Of course you did. Can't get anything past you, can I?" She sighed, then looked at Qrlil with an almost pleading expression. "Okay, I'll level with you. I've got no idea where to start with this. I've never really-" she gestured around, "-had a life like this. If we were to walk into one of these stores, I wouldn't really know what to buy. Well- okay, beach wear obviously but not..." She fell silent, looking as if she didn't have the words to fully relate the nature of her uncertainty.
yey[West Side (Seon and Gwion's Taxi)]
Seon stammered in stupefaction for a moment. Are you joking with me? Are you joking with me? Really, magic or psychic abilities?
For a moment, his thoughts drifted to the question of how exactly those were different, but he quickly dismissed the irrelevant thought.
"We're doomed," he said out loud, mostly to himself. He pressed his hands against his face for a moment and took a few deep breaths, trying refocus his thoughts. All right. First, the legal situation.
"I haven't broken any laws here unless - unless the, um, stuff we're doing counts as illegal," he explained. "The shvuim is almost certainly not employed by the Federation - it's highly xenophobic and honestly I'm, I'm not important enough for them to use aliens, or vokines as they call them - you - instead of etis-tra. But she might be from Free League Security, the military-police apparatus of a state called the Free League, which considers the - my employers a terrorist organization. Or she might be a mercenary hired by one of their, uhm, other enemies."
He gave a nervous twitch. "Do you - or your contacts - know of any way to, I guess the word would be 'shield' us against this tracking ability? Because otherwise, I think I may just have to drop this whole thing and get out of the city." He did not look forward to explaining that to Noxori, but if they really were compromised to the extent Gwion was saying, she would at least understand.
[West Side (Autocab)]
Gev let out an infuriated screeching noise as Kevin's wild manuever resulted in her head repeatedly smacking into the roof. I hate this cab! I hate this part of this city! And most of all, I hate humans!
Well, that last wasn't quite fair. This would probably be as uncomfortable if it was an orl at the controls, or an etis-tra like Seon. Still, Kevin certainly hadn't been kidding when he said he was going to do something stupid.
She peered with one eye at the gun he pulled out. Being more heavily armed is good, but please tell me he's not going to start shooting at the local cops. Apparently, though, the opposite was the case. She let one clawed hand slam down into the fabric of the seat beside her. "Dammit dammit dammit." So all that was for nothing?
At least she'd be able to hopefully find a better-fitting cab when they resumed the pursuit. And thanks to Roderick's abilities, they could resume the pursuit. But still...
She looked at Kevin as they waited for the locals to arrive. "Did you have to pull that stunt-racer shit? That's going to be harder to explain away than the rest of it."
Waiting on Corvidae for Qrlil.
edited 21st Jul '15 11:06:17 AM by nrjxll
Waterfront
"That bazaar place sounds like a good place to start," Garkin said. He scratched his chin with a thoughtful expression on his face before continuing. "By the way, what's that 'backup' thing you keep using? Some kind of augmented reality thing?"
After hearing Angua's explanation, his expression became one of concern instead.
"If it's any consolation," he said. "I think I sort of get what you mean. It took me a while to get used to this whole 'normal life' thing again too."
Undercity - Catacombs
"Yes, that seems rather obvious," Moreena said in response to Eliza's frustrated comment. "I think we should pay them both a visit. I have a feeling things might become interesting."
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.[Spire-60th Floor Conference Room]
Kegan itched the side of his head. "Only mechs- oh, machines? All right."
He thought a moment, then said, "I suppose we could use some. Not too big, perhaps only one pilot a piece. They should be able to fly long distances, and be able to walk. We'd prefer bladed weaponry, but strong laser or particle beams would be useful." He rubbed his chin. "What else, Jade?"
The woman added, "Not terribly big. Our hangars only allow small ships, like jets."
Jac leaned to the ear of Jade, "What are we supposed to offer them?"
"Kegan will think of something," she replied.
Life is hard, that's why no one survives.[Waterfront]
Qrlil reached out and took Angua's hand again. "It is all right," she said, with her head tilted at a slight angle. "I don't think it actually matters that much, really, where you start. You can just buy whatever it is you feel like" - she hissed - "within certain monetary limits anyway." She shifted her posture to a very mildly flirtatious one. "And if you truly have no ideas - I could probably come up with some... suggestions."
Of course, she understood that Angua's problem was probably more that just that specific question, but she had always felt that focusing on the practical details of the moment was one of the best ways to move past such existential dilemmas. Still, though, she thought that they should go ahead and get this resolved so they could move on to more relaxing activities.
Though, really, it is not like we are in all that 'normal' a situation now anyway...
She was just about to set out again in the direction of the bazaar when Zerrimus asked about her backup. She blinked in slight surprise. I would have thought the cravyn would have something like that? Apparently not, though, so she decided to take a moment to explain.
"My backup is a personal network interface and data storage neural implant," she explained. "All qrtxians have one. It is originally so called because it is meant to act as a 'backup' to my natural memory, but it's just as useful when accessing the city's local data network. And yes, the interface is overlaid on my field of vision."
Explanation finished, she set out again down the boardwalk, though at a slow pace so she could continue to talk with the others. Soon, another wide space filled with stalls came into view, with a banner that seemed to be constantly shifting languages above it. Her translation software identified it as reading 'WELCOME TO THE SOUTHEAST BAZAAR'. Behind the stalls was a two-story building with a sign reading CRAZY GARY'S and the gigantic holographic image of some kind of aquatic predator moving back and forth in front of it. After a moment, she identified it as a shark.
You don't have to have them get to the bazaar yet - this description is just for when they do, since I need to head out and might not be back for a few hours.
Market Street - Open Air Bazaar - Apothecary
Kyana frowned at the woman wanting a favor in exchange for the herb but she wasn't going to turn it down. Not when she came this far. "I will help with this...favor of yours. Just tell me what me what you need." she said, crossing her arms. She just hoped she could trust this woman to keep her end of the deal.
Outside Meiko's Cafe - Bus Stop
Midori retracted her hand in surprise as the figure grabbed the change awfully quick from her. For someone who was just exploring the city, they seemed a pretty desperate for money. She followed the figure to the bus stop and blushed when they mentioned maybe they could pay them back. She waved her hands in front of her while saying, "Oh no, that isn't necessary, I mean I don't mind helping a person in need." Midori was fine with giving and getting nothing in return. A simple 'thank you' made her happy. To Sophie's idea of going back to Old City again to look around she said, "That sounds fine. To be honest I'm not entirely sure where to start looking myself. But I heard Old City is full of magic so it should be a good place to start."
Meiko's cafe - Office
Sasha looked a bit confused that Samantha only wanted the job for a few days. "I understand. I think we can do that, especially if it's only for a few days. And what about you two?" she asked to Kiyumi and Naoko. Kiyumi had waited to say something because she wasn't sure what Samantha had wanted to do with this job but now that she had her answer she said, "Well, I'm Kiyumi Tenchi and this is Naoko. I actually wouldn't mind a part time job for awhile." Naoko nodded to this and said, "I would like that as well." Kiyumi grinned and said, "Well there you have. I would love to be a hostess and I'm sure Naoko would like to be a waitress."
Sasha smiled at all of them. They were so eager to work how could she resist hiring them? "Great! Then you are all hired. You may start training today if you would like. I can have Linxy help you. She is one of our senior staff members." she said, "I hope you like it here. I did my best to make this a fun place."
edited 22nd Jul '15 4:33:26 PM by Sphinxyness
"Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?"New City - Outside Meiko's Cafe -> Bus to Old City
Sophie shook her head. "Don't worry yourself about that. helping people is its own reward." She frowned slightly and sighed. "I wish more people would realize that...."
At this point the bus pulled up to the bus stop. Seeing as Midori had agreed to heading back to the Old City, Sophie just nodded before leading the way onto the bus. She did, however, make sure to give the cloaked being enough time to catch up if it wanted to stay with herself and Midori.
New City - Meiko's Cafe
Samantha raised an eyebrow at just how willing Izayoi was to hire them, although she didn't comment on it.
"And we'll do our best to help you," she said with a smile and a nod, before turning to Kiyumi and Naoko, "Now won't we?"
Without waiting for a response, she added, "We'll get started right away. No time like the present, yes? And I'll be fine with whatever position needs more help. I'm not picky."
Undercity - Catacombs
"Hopefully Sabaoth is aware that she's technically an ally and therefore won't physically hurt her," Eliza said, before sighing. "Hopefully. But I'd rather not know what he'd do if Lara pushes him enough, which knowing her seems sort of likely."
She fell silent again. "Also, the drone that was following her seems to have flown off, and I certainly didn't tell it to stop. Maybe it's best that we go check in on them." She stuck out an arm again. "At last report Lara was still near the Whitehall Motel. Chances are that's where they'll be."
West Side - Near Whitehall Motel
"That I am," Sabaoth replied, "Sabaoth. First Archon of the Bleaksteel."
He looked down even more at Lara. "You have my full attention, pipsqueak. Now get on with it." He then turned his head to the right to gaze at Lara through his left eye and learned in closer to her. "Or was your great game plan simply to waste my time?"
City Center - Spire (60th Floor Conference Room)
Darius nodded. "Ah, it sounds like you'd benefit most from our basic scout and combat units. Capable of both flight and walking, and in both bipedal and quadrupedal modes. Scout units come equipped with a blade and a wrist-mounted machine gun, while combat units have twin machine guns. While we do have access to directed-energy weapons, they are still largely in the experimental phase."
He leaned back slightly. "If you so desire I can also offer you a wide variety of drones, who can fulfill both combat and possibly reconnaissance." He frowned. "You will, however, have to program them to fit your needs. Unfortunately, I do not believe the Bleaksteel hive mind can operate out at that distance."
edited 21st Jul '15 12:25:49 PM by Yomegami
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!Undercity - Catacombs -> Near Whitehall Motel
Moreena took the arm. "It should be easy enough to find her," she said. Once again, the world went dark for a moment before she and Eliza appeared on the sidewalk of one of the West Side's rundown streets, some distance away from Lara and the giant chunk of metal that Moreena could only assume was Sabaoth's mech. He had apparently stepped on a car. Was it due to an accident, or just a lack of respect for personal property? She would probably find out eventually.
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.[NEAR WHITEHALL MOTEL]
Lara tightened her hands into fists to hopefully keep herself calm. "No." She answered, keeping a straight face, "I am not trying to waste your time. What I am trying is to maybe tell you something."
By now, her nerve had finally started slowly returning, but there was still the nervousness that she was playing with fire. Only this time it didn't come from her bracelets.
"To start with, what makes you think of these girls the way you do?"
West Side - Near Whitehall Motel
Sabaoth scoffed. "Oh, so you think you're a psychiatrist? Well I got a news flash for you, pipsqueak."
He dismissively waved his arm out to the side. "Our organization was founded to fight and kill. I joined up to fight and kill. I'm going to keep fighting and killing no matter how much Mr. Goody Two-Shoes thinks we should change. If that couldn't change me..."
He suddenly pointed at Lara, the claw at the end of his finger glowing red and emitting an ominous hum. "...What makes you think you can?"
Meanwhile, Eliza reappeared alongside Moreena, close to the spot where the car Sabaoth wrecked was lying. She glanced at this, before shaking her head and sighing.
"That's not a good sign," she said before turning to look at the scene. It didn't look like things had gotten too heated yet, but at the same time it didn't look like they were getting off to a good start.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian![Waterfront]
Qrlil's hand went a ways to dispelling Angua's nervousness. She offered a small smile. "I'm being silly." Then she nodded. "And yeah, I think that would be good. You know how often I get to- y'know what? Let's just get going. Enough of this hand-wringing nonsense."
Angua set off towards the bazaar.
yey[New City (Outside Meiko's Cafe) -> Bus to Old City]
"How very idealistic of you," the hooded being said in a neutral tone of voice. More quietly, it said as if to itself, "A characteristic that I have not seen very often. Especially not of late. Oh no..."
It let out a soft hiss, then shuffled after the two young humans onto the bus. Although it initially seemed to be getting on separately, at Midori's comment about the Old City its hooded head perked up, though it somehow still did not reveal anything of the face underneath except for that glint of red eyes. By this point it might be becoming evident to Sophie and/or Midori that the shadows in the hood are not just being caused by natural lighting.
"Magic in the Old City?" it said. "I have heard of this. How fascinating. And mysterious." There was another hiss.
[Waterfront (Southeast Bazaar)]
Qrlil hissed. "I don't mind wringing hands, necessarily," she said lightly, taking Angua's again for a moment before she let go and moved further into the bazaar. She did know what the phrase actually meant, by this point, but she could not resist the opportunity for a pun. And anyway it would also hopefully further push aside any of the kasuar's anxieties about this situation.
Glancing around, she saw a wide variety of stalls, though most did indeed specialize in beach or ocean-themed items. Several were selling swimwear, both in styles she was familiar with and others that were clearly not from her reality. The shoppers bustling from stall to stall were similarly diverse; besides the humans that apparently made up the majority of the city's population, she spotted a handful of species she recognized, such as an orange-scaled saurian gluvpaki and a tubular red dragosi in its high-gravity exoskeleton. But most of the visitors were not from any species she had ever seen before.
She decided that for the moment, she would let Angua - and Zerrimus if he did truly want some beach clothes of his own - take the lead.
I'll leave it up to you what they find, since Qrlil is taking something of a passive role.
edited 21st Jul '15 11:03:22 PM by nrjxll
Waterfront (Southeast Bazaar)
Oh, so she did have cybernetic implants? "All of you got one?" Garkin asked with a hint of disbelief in his voice, before continuing in a more humorous tone. "Can you watch videos on that thing?''
Garkin strolled through the bazaar, taking in the sights of the various market stalls and all the people who were wandering between them. He glanced up at the "Crazy Gary" sign and the holographic... fish? Upon noticing it's teeth, he scratched the side of his head and got a curious expression on his face for a brief moment. Wouldn't large aquatic predators be the last thing you'd like to think about when going for a swim?
He dismissed the thought, and began to search the stalls for a place that sold clothes with wing slits.
West Side (Near Whitehall Motel)
"No, it most certainly isn't," Moreena said, and walked off in the direction of Lara and Sabaoth. She hadn't heard them speak, but it was rather obvious that things weren't exactly peaceful between them.
She stopped a short distance away from Lara, and looked up at the needlessly massive mech.
"This is Sabaoth, I assume?"
edited 22nd Jul '15 9:01:17 AM by Corvidae
Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.[Waterfront]
Sparing a look back, Angua flashed Qrlil an odd smile before diving into the bazaar. She flitted between the cluttered stalls, eyes roaming, dodging between shoppers of many species, and it wasn't long before Qrlil lost sight of her among the mass of bodies.
Angua was busy searching for a while before, at last, she raised a hand above the throng and waved Qrlil over. She was standing next to an impatient-looking saurian vendor and was holding up a colorful set of aquatic-themed swimwear in two pieces.
yeyBus to Old City
Midori got on the bus and watched as the figure followed them. She took a seat and blinked when the figure commented on what she said about Old City. "Ah, um, yeah, it is full of magical beings and things. Or so I've seen. I live right outside it. They even have an Arena there for people to join competitions to show off their skills including magical abilities." she explained. Her eyes were staring at the strange shadows in the cloak. They seemed very strange, where they created by magic? Or was it just part of the creature beneath the cloak. She had never heard of the race the figure had mentioned they were earlier.
Meiko's Cafe
"Great, I'm thinking I'll hire two of you as waitresses and one of you as a hostess. But you can be moved around depending on what we need. Good luck, I'm counting on you." said Sasha with a wave as the girls got up and left the office. She leaned back in her chair with a smile and sighed. "Glad I could more help around here." she said and looked to a picture on her desk of an older woman who looked similar to her with two kids, what looked to be a younger Sasha and a brown haired boy with a grumpy look on his face. "Going to make this cafe the greatest place in New City mom, you'll see."
Midori and Kiyumi had exited but not before thanking Sasha as they left the room with Samantha. Waiting as if on cue for them nearby was the same cat girl as before with a smile. "Hello again. I overheard you were hired as hostess and waitresses. My name is Linxy and I'll be training you. Follow me to the back and I'll get your uniforms. We have plenty in different sizes so we should be able to find some that fit you." she said, gesturing towards the back of the cafe and for them to follow.
"Can you imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?"[West Side (Autocab)]
The moment the cab stopped, Roderick had thrown open the door and stepped out. He walked toward the cop car, one hand up to show he was unarmed, the other holding his badge out in the open. If his badge was scanned, it would reveal a transmitter inside, broadcasting his credentials to the police.
"Officer Roderick Burke, Carthian Honor Guard," he said. "I can explain. Within my own jurisdiction, I do not need to report my actions, and forgot that I might need to here."
[Waterfront (Southeast Bazaar)]
"In theory, I suppose," Qrlil said after Zerrimus as he wandered off. "But it is generally a better idea to use dedicated simulation equipment, because..."
She realized he had already left, and called out "Perhaps later?"
With the others having gone their own ways, she decided to take a moment to look around the bazaar herself. She wasn't really planning on it, but if she actually wanted to go swimming at some time then she would probably need to buy something herself, since her robes weren't exactly designed for it. More importantly, though, she just wanted to see what she could of the bazaar itself. The collection of beings and items was fascinatingly diverse, and worth taking the time to explore.
Though it was also not without a few problems. She quickly found herself having to fend off an insectoid merchant who seemed intent on selling her some kind of skin lotion, and evidently did not care that she actually had scales. This was followed by convincing a strangely-accented human that she neither wanted or needed sunglasses.
Still, though, it was more enjoyable than not.
Eventually, she caught sight of Angua waving to her and made her way over. She gave the clothing the kasuar was holding up a glance. "Is that what you are thinking about, then?"
[West Side]
Kevin leaned back, and exhaled sharply. "Sometimes the law slows things down. Like now. Where I come from, I got better results by being an independent detective. Case in point." He pointed behind him, at the Capital's cops. It was paperwork, legal walls, getting mixed up with other stations. Most of his work did entangle with cops, but he is usually hired.
Kevin eyed his gun. No, if I do that, I'll be the fugitive. He took the weapon and put it back in its holster. "Either way, I think I can take responsibility. I felt it necessary, and I made sure no one got hurt. I did it to catch up to your target." Well, it was very possible someone would've gotten hurt. He was lucky. If he did end up crashing, he knew he would've stopped then. But he didn't. So he kept going.
After Roderick exited the car, Kevin followed. He made his holster visible, but otherwise stayed quiet. He sucked in a large breath.
Life is hard, that's why no one survives.Bus to Old City
It looked like the cloaked being was going to stick with them for a little while longer, just because they all happened to be getting on the bus or if the being still wanted to show its gratitude. Sophie supposed she was okay with this, but her eyes widened a bit when she noticed the shadows under its hood not acting naturally in the slightest. As she took a seat next to Midori, she felt for her pendant to make sure it was still hanging there. She felt somewhat naked with it out even if she wasn't transformed, but at the same time she wanted to be ready for the worst.
"Well...um...I don't know if it's really true or not. I mean, I've only been here for a day or so," she said, "I guess we'll see when we get there. Or get back there, actually. We were there earlier today for...stuff."
New City - Meiko's Cafe
"A pleasure," Samantha said with a smile and a nod to Linxy. The second the catgirl turned her back, she frowned heavily and let out a wordless sigh before following. For whatever reason, she still seemed insistent on leading Kiyumi and Naoko. The balance of speed she had to maintain to make sure she was between them and Linxy was definitely awkward and quite a few times she had to intentionally slow herself down.
"This better be worth it," she muttered under her breath.
Icon by Civvi the Civilian!

[West Side (Autocab)]
As Roderick pulled out his phone, he bit back the obvious retort: he didn't know Seon would happen to get the same idea as him at the same time, and was just bouncing it out as a suggestion. Instead, he just stayed quiet and dialed the police.
Once the person on the other end picked up, he began talking fast. "This is Officer Roderick Burke of the Carthian Honor Guard, ID number 2072. I believe there's been a mistake. I am currently in pursuit of a known criminal supplier, currently in a taxi heading westbound on..." There was a brief pause as he looked at his sheet. "...Tamris St. towards Hole in the Ground, on behalf of... Lieutenant Gevian Abassix of... Free League Security. Lacking better transportation, we commandeered an autocab, and suspect that our target has noticed us and attempted to call in a false report to shake us. As such, car 306 is right behind us, currently Code 3. If you could patch me through to the officers in pursuit, call them off, or otherwise clarify the situation, that'd be great. If you would prefer, you can talk to Lieutenant Abassix directly."
Covering the microphone with a thumb, he muttered to Gev, "And if we do lose them but get out of this, remember: I can find them anywhere."
Within his own world, Roderick's Honor Guard credentials mean he automatically outranks any other non-Honor-Guard officers, so the Capital police force should be aware of his high rank.