[ Isn't this how it always goes? Two go in when there should be more and suffer. If they get injured here, how much more mad would Wei Wuxian get? ]
I'd be surprised if it isn't mostly cleaned up, but they had to be very dedicated to get it all.
[ That murderer is lucky luminol hasn't been discovered yet TBH.
Shinobu guides him around the coffee shop and points at some scattered and faint blood splotches in the distance, walking more carefully the closer she gets to the alleyway. She doesn't want to make too much carefully. ]
It looks like they lead to some abandoned buildings in Middleton. That's the direction they seem to be heading towards.
[When will these FOOLS start going in larger groups, that's the real question!! Also yeah they'd better not get fucked up because then Wei Wuxian will quite literally destroy the town with his own bare hands so fingers crossed that this goes not terribly.
He'll mostly follow her lead, though; he's a strong tracker, but mostly for, y'know. Living targets. It's fine.]
Are you familiar with them? [The buildings, he means; he knows Montevallo pretty well, of course, but naturally he's most comfortable with his own territory.]
[ It's her job to look out for blood and where it comes from, not in this scenario or way, but she can stretch and apply her job skills here. Her observation level is sharp, and she means business. ]
I'm not overly familiar, but I decided to try to be more so once I heard that Middleton was being touched.
[ Nothing is sacred anymore, not even neutrality. There's something a little off to her smile. It's also fine. ]
Should we look in the buildings, one by one, or canvas all the suspicious ones and then pick from there?
Hopefully there aren't too many of these buildings, but even if there are, this is the current top priority. So he's got the time to check them all, if they must; he prefers being thorough.]
I would suggest choosing the most suspicious, and working our way outwards. [Probably they should split up, but haha, not doing that!!!] What are your thoughts?
I'm fine with that. Let's follow what we can of the blood until there isn't any more to follow.
[ She's also one for thoroughness, and they can make a better plan once they know just how thorough they have to be. There must be a number of buildings they have to pass and take note of before they come across any one that sticks out as the most suspicious, but... ]
It almost seems like whoever did this... knows this area well. Don't you think?
[ The path they're taking... Doesn't that make it seem that way? It's purposeful even if it's just a blood drop or splatter every once in a while. ]
[A succinct response, to both her suggestion and her question. He's quiet for so long after that, sharp eyes focused on finding evidence, that it almost seems like that's the end of it--but eventually, he speaks again.]
It seems likely the culprit is a long-time citizen. They would not have reason to be so passionate, otherwise. [The effort it took to not only murder, but gruesomely display not one, but three men, must've been substantial. It's not impossible, but he doubts anyone without strong ties to the city and its families would've gone that far.]
[ It doesn't make any of this any better. It doesn't make it any less unforgivable to her. Even if she didn't care for those men, there is a better way to exact justice, and it is not that. ]
This person needs to redirect his passion. He needs to find a better way to go about it. More than that, he needs to be stopped.
[ The more they walk, the more the smell of something metallic, perhaps ferric, starts to tinge the air. Shinobu's caution spikes, and she looks at Lan Wangji. ]
I think we're getting close to what we need to find.
[It's a noncommittal noise--he agrees with her, but for entirely different reasons. He mostly dislikes how performative the whole thing was; he has no sympathy for the kidnappers, nor their enablers, but he knows better than to say that to a doctor.
She's right, though. The back of his neck prickles in a way that has his focus sharpening, though he's careful not to look around too obviously. He lowers his voice as he speaks to her, as well.]
[ She's a doctor who was okay with letting some kidnappers' bodies rot. Her goodness isn't all-encompassing. As much as it goes against doing no harm, she is willing to do harm.
She nods in response. Shinobu isn't that great with a gun, but she's fine with knives and needles, and she puts her hands against where she has them tucked away.
Shinobu stops in front of a building, the one all of her senses tell her is dangerous. Even if she can't see any huge messes of blood, she can't mistake the scent of it. ]
Shall we go in?
[ They need to see how much is left, if there's any kind of evidence to find. ]
[She can't mistake it and neither can he; his expression isn't troubled, exactly, but it's darker than usual as his eyes scan the place. PLEASE DON'T BE A TRAP, BUILDING, HE'S TIRED.
He doesn't draw a weapon, but he's ready to, if he must.]
It is to be expected. [That they would work harder to clean up in here than out on the street, that is. It's a mafia town--honestly, even during peacetime, people would be unlikely to bat an eyelash at some blood spatter in an alleyway around here.
He moves further into the building, eyes roaming over the floor and the walls.] Search carefully. It is not unlikely that they missed something.
[ Something to point to the culprit, something glaring, something obvious so they can just go after them already. She wants to know more than anything—who and why.
Her eyes are peeled, and she is looking for any small clue. Anything. ]
All I can see is blood here and there. Whoever it was knew what they were doing.
[He doesn't say much aside from that, but his thoughts are moving quickly as he moves further into the warehouse, despite his instincts telling him to keep an eye on the door.
If the killer was this thorough, then they've likely been tracking the kidnapping ring for some time, especially if they were able to capture not one, but three people involved. It makes sense, then, that they're capable and informed--the struggle, here, is that this is Montevallo, and that doesn't narrow down their list of suspects, like, at all. VASTLY UNHELPFUL.
Lan Wangji can be a patient man, though, so he's not terribly frustrated. They knew they were working against pros, after all. Still, it would be nice to find a proper lead--he's unused to feeling so uninformed about what's happening in the city.
Eventually, he speaks up again, as he continues examining every part of his side of the building.]
Do you believe this was done by the Xian Le, or the Mori? [His tone doesn't sound suspicious, or accusatory--it's just a question. She knows more about this than he does.]
[ Shinobu is nowhere near as patient, as calm and serene as she tries her best to be. There is always some resentment and anger swirling because her caring heart can't stand to see these kind of injustices go on. She has no pity or sympathy for the kidnappers, but all these events have done is make the lives of everyone in town worse.
She slows in her movements at his question, and she turns to look at him very carefully. ]
It's someone from the Xian Le. Or he used to be. [ How much does she care to be subtle about this anymore? ] The fires on Valentine's Day declared it for the entire town to see. He's working against the Xian Le.
[A man? She says it with such certainty that it's difficult to think she doesn't know what she's talking about, especially when he knows she's highly capable. The way he pauses in his searching is probably a good sign that he wasn't aware of these details, and he takes a moment to take them in, thoughts racing.
They no longer have the luxury of turning a blind eye to each other's struggles. Haku's betrothal to Mizuki meant he'd always tried to keep somewhat aware of the Xian Le's internal affairs, but a traitor in their midst would've meant far less to him mere months ago, than it does now. Their "enemy lines" have been thoroughly smudged, for better or for worse; the actions of this person have affected all of them, if she believes that the murderer is also the one who started the fires.
If the Yiling Ridge children had gotten caught up in that...]
An accomplice to Madame Wren? [He's going to assume she knows who that is.] Or against her?
[It seems unlikely that they'd be working together--the fire took out many of those warehouses, after all. A retaliation, perhaps?]
[ Whether her conclusion of the murderer and the arsonist are the same is correct is something she has not been able to prove without a doubt, but it's something she feels certain about because the other possibility is too daunting. That would be too many different parties involved, and it would take a completely different strategy to tackle. ]
If they were working together before, there is no way they can be now.
[ All those warehouses gone in a night is as much a declaration of war as it is parting. ]
I don't know if they were once allies or not. I only know that Xian Le members have been attacked, and some of those members were at least tangentially related to the kidnapping ring. Some of them may not be.
[He considers her point, then nods, accepting it. The only way they could know, he supposes, is if they could track the traitor's movements in correspondence with the kidnapping ring. But without any leads, that's difficult to do.
It's a shame, really--if the traitor is so strongly against the kidnappings, they would've made a strong ally. Now, they're as much a public enemy as the kidnappers.]
Have you made a list of suspects? ["A Xian Le man, or a former one" isn't much to go off of, with nothing else to supplement it. But already, he's trying to think it through. His priority is still taking down the kidnapping ring, but if this person had ties to them (especially ties that they cut) then they would be a useful lead in that way, as well.]
I know Jiang Cheng wanted to be stricter about his movements. I don't know if that's still true.
[ She kind of moved out, and she also had a small talk with Jiang Cheng before she did about that. Who knows if his anger of her leaving affected anything? ]
[Hm. Jiang Cheng is...... well, Lan Wangji has a lot of reasons for disliking him, but most of them have to do with his personality and his behavior. It seems unlikely that he'd betray the same family he was so upset about Wei Wuxian and Baren leaving.
Lan Wangji is, at least, professional enough that he only lets himself ruminate on how annoying Jiang Cheng is for a second, before he shifts his focus back to the discussion at hand.]
Is Xie Lian likely to follow those orders? [Lan Wangji can just imagine how hard Chuuya would laugh if he tried to pull something like that... but then, Chuuya was far more prepared to take over his role.]
[It feels important to clarify that, somehow. He and Chuuya are close, but they do not have that sort of relationship. Lan Wangji advises him, follows his orders, and, of course, would protect him with his life--but Chuuya is an independent man, and Lan Wangji often trusts him to know how best to take care of himself.
(Also he doesn't want to be compared to Jiang Cheng, because he apparently still has time to be petty.)
That said, though--]
But you are correct. [If Lan Wangji advised caution (which he usually does), Chuuya would take it into consideration, but it's true that ultimately, he is a leader. There's no way he would sit on the sidelines in Xie Lian's position.]
[ None of Xie Lian's bodyguards are either, considering all the times she's caught him without them around. ]
In the end, all we can do is guide or make suggestions, and if they listen, they'll be better for it.
[ It's about now that the sound of some shady looking fellows outside the building can be heard. They're shuffling in this direction, talking as they walk with no concern of being quiet. ]
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no subject
I'd be surprised if it isn't mostly cleaned up, but they had to be very dedicated to get it all.
[ That murderer is lucky luminol hasn't been discovered yet TBH.
Shinobu guides him around the coffee shop and points at some scattered and faint blood splotches in the distance, walking more carefully the closer she gets to the alleyway. She doesn't want to make too much carefully. ]
It looks like they lead to some abandoned buildings in Middleton. That's the direction they seem to be heading towards.
no subject
He'll mostly follow her lead, though; he's a strong tracker, but mostly for, y'know. Living targets. It's fine.]
Are you familiar with them? [The buildings, he means; he knows Montevallo pretty well, of course, but naturally he's most comfortable with his own territory.]
no subject
I'm not overly familiar, but I decided to try to be more so once I heard that Middleton was being touched.
[ Nothing is sacred anymore, not even neutrality. There's something a little off to her smile. It's also fine. ]
Should we look in the buildings, one by one, or canvas all the suspicious ones and then pick from there?
[ What's the best plan to him? ]
no subject
Hopefully there aren't too many of these buildings, but even if there are, this is the current top priority. So he's got the time to check them all, if they must; he prefers being thorough.]
I would suggest choosing the most suspicious, and working our way outwards. [Probably they should split up, but haha, not doing that!!!] What are your thoughts?
no subject
[ She's also one for thoroughness, and they can make a better plan once they know just how thorough they have to be. There must be a number of buildings they have to pass and take note of before they come across any one that sticks out as the most suspicious, but... ]
It almost seems like whoever did this... knows this area well. Don't you think?
[ The path they're taking... Doesn't that make it seem that way? It's purposeful even if it's just a blood drop or splatter every once in a while. ]
no subject
[A succinct response, to both her suggestion and her question. He's quiet for so long after that, sharp eyes focused on finding evidence, that it almost seems like that's the end of it--but eventually, he speaks again.]
It seems likely the culprit is a long-time citizen. They would not have reason to be so passionate, otherwise. [The effort it took to not only murder, but gruesomely display not one, but three men, must've been substantial. It's not impossible, but he doubts anyone without strong ties to the city and its families would've gone that far.]
no subject
[ It doesn't make any of this any better. It doesn't make it any less unforgivable to her. Even if she didn't care for those men, there is a better way to exact justice, and it is not that. ]
This person needs to redirect his passion. He needs to find a better way to go about it. More than that, he needs to be stopped.
[ The more they walk, the more the smell of something metallic, perhaps ferric, starts to tinge the air. Shinobu's caution spikes, and she looks at Lan Wangji. ]
I think we're getting close to what we need to find.
no subject
[It's a noncommittal noise--he agrees with her, but for entirely different reasons. He mostly dislikes how performative the whole thing was; he has no sympathy for the kidnappers, nor their enablers, but he knows better than to say that to a doctor.
She's right, though. The back of his neck prickles in a way that has his focus sharpening, though he's careful not to look around too obviously. He lowers his voice as he speaks to her, as well.]
Stay on your guard.
no subject
She nods in response. Shinobu isn't that great with a gun, but she's fine with knives and needles, and she puts her hands against where she has them tucked away.
Shinobu stops in front of a building, the one all of her senses tell her is dangerous. Even if she can't see any huge messes of blood, she can't mistake the scent of it. ]
Shall we go in?
[ They need to see how much is left, if there's any kind of evidence to find. ]
no subject
He doesn't draw a weapon, but he's ready to, if he must.]
Mm. [Into the blood house they go...]
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There has to be more than this—!
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He moves further into the building, eyes roaming over the floor and the walls.] Search carefully. It is not unlikely that they missed something.
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[ Something to point to the culprit, something glaring, something obvious so they can just go after them already. She wants to know more than anything—who and why.
Her eyes are peeled, and she is looking for any small clue. Anything. ]
All I can see is blood here and there. Whoever it was knew what they were doing.
no subject
[He doesn't say much aside from that, but his thoughts are moving quickly as he moves further into the warehouse, despite his instincts telling him to keep an eye on the door.
If the killer was this thorough, then they've likely been tracking the kidnapping ring for some time, especially if they were able to capture not one, but three people involved. It makes sense, then, that they're capable and informed--the struggle, here, is that this is Montevallo, and that doesn't narrow down their list of suspects, like, at all. VASTLY UNHELPFUL.
Lan Wangji can be a patient man, though, so he's not terribly frustrated. They knew they were working against pros, after all. Still, it would be nice to find a proper lead--he's unused to feeling so uninformed about what's happening in the city.
Eventually, he speaks up again, as he continues examining every part of his side of the building.]
Do you believe this was done by the Xian Le, or the Mori? [His tone doesn't sound suspicious, or accusatory--it's just a question. She knows more about this than he does.]
no subject
She slows in her movements at his question, and she turns to look at him very carefully. ]
It's someone from the Xian Le. Or he used to be. [ How much does she care to be subtle about this anymore? ] The fires on Valentine's Day declared it for the entire town to see. He's working against the Xian Le.
[ A traitor. ]
no subject
They no longer have the luxury of turning a blind eye to each other's struggles. Haku's betrothal to Mizuki meant he'd always tried to keep somewhat aware of the Xian Le's internal affairs, but a traitor in their midst would've meant far less to him mere months ago, than it does now. Their "enemy lines" have been thoroughly smudged, for better or for worse; the actions of this person have affected all of them, if she believes that the murderer is also the one who started the fires.
If the Yiling Ridge children had gotten caught up in that...]
An accomplice to Madame Wren? [He's going to assume she knows who that is.] Or against her?
[It seems unlikely that they'd be working together--the fire took out many of those warehouses, after all. A retaliation, perhaps?]
no subject
If they were working together before, there is no way they can be now.
[ All those warehouses gone in a night is as much a declaration of war as it is parting. ]
I don't know if they were once allies or not. I only know that Xian Le members have been attacked, and some of those members were at least tangentially related to the kidnapping ring. Some of them may not be.
[ She doesn't have confirmation of that. ]
no subject
It's a shame, really--if the traitor is so strongly against the kidnappings, they would've made a strong ally. Now, they're as much a public enemy as the kidnappers.]
Have you made a list of suspects? ["A Xian Le man, or a former one" isn't much to go off of, with nothing else to supplement it. But already, he's trying to think it through. His priority is still taking down the kidnapping ring, but if this person had ties to them (especially ties that they cut) then they would be a useful lead in that way, as well.]
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[ A male with long hair does not narrow down the list that much for her. It only makes her insides churn with who she wishes it isn't. ]
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...well, no one said it would be easy.
He finally turns away from inspecting the building, satisfied that there's nothing left to find, and focuses on her instead.]
Have you noticed any suspicious activity around Xie Lian himself?
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I know Jiang Cheng wanted to be stricter about his movements. I don't know if that's still true.
[ She kind of moved out, and she also had a small talk with Jiang Cheng before she did about that. Who knows if his anger of her leaving affected anything? ]
no subject
Lan Wangji is, at least, professional enough that he only lets himself ruminate on how annoying Jiang Cheng is for a second, before he shifts his focus back to the discussion at hand.]
Is Xie Lian likely to follow those orders? [Lan Wangji can just imagine how hard Chuuya would laugh if he tried to pull something like that... but then, Chuuya was far more prepared to take over his role.]
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No. Not for long. [ Or not at all, for how Xie Lian likes to shoulder every burden, ever flaw as his own. ]
I doubt Chuuya would either.
[ Each leader is different, but they're still leaders. ]
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[It feels important to clarify that, somehow. He and Chuuya are close, but they do not have that sort of relationship. Lan Wangji advises him, follows his orders, and, of course, would protect him with his life--but Chuuya is an independent man, and Lan Wangji often trusts him to know how best to take care of himself.
(Also he doesn't want to be compared to Jiang Cheng, because he apparently still has time to be petty.)
That said, though--]
But you are correct. [If Lan Wangji advised caution (which he usually does), Chuuya would take it into consideration, but it's true that ultimately, he is a leader. There's no way he would sit on the sidelines in Xie Lian's position.]
no subject
[ None of Xie Lian's bodyguards are either, considering all the times she's caught him without them around. ]
In the end, all we can do is guide or make suggestions, and if they listen, they'll be better for it.
[ It's about now that the sound of some shady looking fellows outside the building can be heard. They're shuffling in this direction, talking as they walk with no concern of being quiet. ]