Open Empty Answers (East Street)

[Matthaus]

16th of Autumn, 512AV After having gathered to discuss the missing persons Matthaus had devised his own goals. What precisely he was going to do he wasn't sure. But he had sparse information and even the authorizes didn't seem to be bothered or have much information. Logic and habit told him bad things occurred in bad areas, all he had to do was find Zeltiva's. But first he would go to the docks as suggested by their 'friendly' waveguard. The young man had been evasive and didn't seem trustworthy but the docks were an obvious start either way. Rather than waste any more time the boy gathered his own thoughts. Tried to formulate the most obvious questions, mundane things were key because if he knew what they did do it would be easier to note when they had done something they usually didn't. His brow furrowed and he watched the docks grow closer with each step, what would he ask first? There was no real way to approach it besides being straightforward. It wasn't his strong point, even when he was being straightforward it was because it gave him an advantage of some type not because he had to. He needed to calm himself, he was getting too excited again. Halting a bit away from the mild bustle of people he formulated his first question. Where did they live? But it seemed so vague, so pointless and it would give him the answers he wanted. He didn't actually need to find the people, did he? No, he just needed to figure out what they were needed for. Likely something bad. Which sent him back to square one. New question. Where was the bad side of Zeltiva? Renewed in his confidence Matthaus wandered over to the people strolling the docks. His mind wondering how precisely to ask where he would find the 'bad side'. He rummaged through his mind and back to how Rikki was always up to no good at the docks, obviously someone else would be too. They had to be or else he would be going in circles! He took his time, scanning around and strolling along the edge of the docks, careful to keep out of the way and hurry out of sight if needed. Not that many noticed him. That is when he spotted it. A mug of ale. Something simple and it looked disgusting (no ale he had seen was ever so...green) but the sway of the walk told him the man would either go home or do what most men did when drunk. Find a woman. It worked rather well for a few moments, he was trying to tail the man. Mostly only succeeding in stumbling after him and dodging around people to keep him in sight. To top it all off the man didn't even reach his destination and Matthaus found himself hopping over the passed out lump on the street. His lips thinned and he sighed in aggravation. His eyes wandered to take in his surroundings and he stared at the mans body, turning his to match the way it lay and striding in the general direction. If he kept going this way he would reach wherever he was headed eventually.

[Lucas Arias]

Just like Matthaus Lucas had decided to look for clues regarding the disappearance of those Svefra. And just like Matthaus he had decided that the best place to start looking was the bad part of the city. Of course he didn’t have any idea where exactly the bad part was either, being comparatively new to Zeltiva. So he decided to check out the docks instead. They probably had a couple of taverns there where he could get drunk and find out important information at the same time. Maybe he’d pretend that he was looking for employment. He had worked in a bar before and really enjoyed it. Sometimes he missed Nyka.

Since a (former) squire and university employee/student probably wouldn’t be all that popular in an area like this one, Lucas had left his nice and clean clothes at home and attempted to make himself look like some kind of Svefra instead, with colourful clothes and layers upon layers. He’d also hidden his sword under his clothes because he was pretty sure that red haired Svefra bastards that were looking for employment at a bar didn’t have such an expensive sword.

As it happened he was walking in the same direction as Matthaus since this was where all the drunk people or people that wanted to get drunk were going. He was pretty sure that he had almost reached his destination when he noticed a boy that was following somebody as well. He furrowed his brow. What was a child doing here? Of course he had constantly been in the less reputable parts of the city when he had been a child, but he had hardly been a normal child.

So he snuck up on the child, and then, as he noticed just who it was, his eyes widened, and he wondered, „Are you doing what I think you are doing?“

[Matthaus]

He tried not to flinch but was sure he did not succeed. However, the voice alerted him that it was familiar so he did not immediately try to flee into the crowd. Going through his own mental list of faces and names he turned a bit to face one of his fellow party members. Red hair. Lucas. He relaxed entirely, it was not that he trusted the older boy but he wasn’t nosey and from what he spoke of he would be useful on this little venture. “If by that you mean asking questions about a certain disappearance, then yes.” “You can join.” It was a statement rather than a suggestion, the more he thought about it the more sense it made to have someone who looked older with him. Someone who could likely be a fighter. “I assumed finding the…lower class first would be best. However, I seem to have trouble getting there but I believe it’s that way.” He made a vague motion with his hand and picked up his pace once more. As he walked he contemplated their options. Whoever did this knew simple things. They would know to watch out for people looking but if it was an entire family…He touched his forehead lightly and applied pressure. He was missing crucial pieces to this. But he would set that aside for deciding his next move. Obviously going here was his first question, what was his next? He couldn’t very well walk in and demand someone tell him if they knew anything. “We will start with the drunks when we reach an establishment. Unless you have a different opinion?” It wasn’t sarcastic though he knew it sounded rude. Matthaus wasn’t trying to make friends with Lucas, though he didn’t mind the others company. He was an odd factor, he wasn’t really predictable. His thoughts spun round to possible variables where it could go wrong or toes they could step on but couldn’t find anything that would really stop him.

[Jibril Keenan]

Jibril lurked the East street, he was once here for he was a former unprofessional thief. He made some patterns with his fingertips feeling old familiar dark walls of a brothel he used to passed by. Goosebumps, he jerked remembering the seemingly aggressively odd ladies of the place. He said goodbye to this place once, yet he can't nearly left it forever permanently burying with his past. He almost buried all his past and in the process that he nearly can't remember his childhood memories anymore. He suddenly jumped through his senses, when he observed two chatting individuals across the shadowy road. Jibril can tell whether a man is a low-class, a thief or perhaps a swindler in his own observation. He grew up as a nomadic squatter of the city. He knows what street thugs and junkies really looked like. Jibril thought the little pale boy was a ghost at his first glance, but he got purple eyes! Was there a ghost with purple eyes, loitering the East street in this time of hours?!! No... Absolutely... The peculiar spooky child was saying something to the young man. Was he was his brother or were they related? Jibril asked himself. Jibril tried to walked away but curiosity drive him and somewhat gone forward the direction of the two. Upon facing them he heard the last statement of the boy to his older companion, "“We will start with the drunks when we reach an establishment. Unless you have a different opinion?” After hearing the boy, he coughed hardly to emphased his presence, "Drunks? What were you specifically looking at? This is a harsh place especially to children." Jibril answering the boy with a friendly smile. Jibril paused and examined the little boy's older companion for a moment and swiftly returning back his gazed, "Was this a part of the school's project? ... Maybe, I can helped..."

[Matthaus]

The voice startled him and he wondered exactly how loud he had spoken, his eyes turning to take in the newcomer. Male and not that much older than Lucas he guessed or about the same age. He wouldn’t waste any of his energy on trying to figure this one out, his question and approach telling Matthaus he was curious or probing to figure out what they were doing. Pursing his lips he nodded curtly, if the young man wanted to give him an excuse he would take it, “Yes, a school project on…values or lack thereof. Of course, it is a dangerous area and that is why I have my cousin here.” He flicked his gaze to said teen and gave him a flat look, willingly the other to be smart enough tp just go with it. Likely he would but a bit of shoving in a direction didn’t hurt. He wasn’t sure what else to say and took a moment, keeping his gaze on Lucas as if waiting for him to speak but truly just gathering his own thoughts. Denying the other might look suspicious but to invite him would be a pain. “I’m sure you could be helpful, you are familiar with East Street? Perhaps you can show us both around, a tour.” Matthaus waved his arm out to encompass the area with a tight, thin smile. Maybe he could even probe some information out of this boy as well. The disappearances weren’t unknown so he had maybe heard something they hadn’t. “My name is Brandon,” Lucas would likely introduce himself so he kept his gaze on the newcomer, “and what would yours be?”

[Jibril Keenan]

At the first place, he knew this little hooded kid was bluffing. This kid makes him felt really uncomfortable. There was something in this kid that isn't normal. His like older than him, the way he acts and the way he delivered his speeches, or possibly the right word was brilliant. He surely can take care of himself and was more intelligent than the older companion next to him. Cousin? Jibril tried to hide his reaction when the child said it, "...that is why I have my cousin here.", raising his right eyebrows a little bit. Jibril cleared his throat and verify the redhead guy about the earlier child's statement, "Your cousins?" Jibril wasn't sure if these two were telling the truth about their true identities. But he really doesn't care at all, his sure that they wouldn't do any harm, their seemed educated at least. He was been relieved when the hooded, responded an answer and a thin smile. He hated being stuck in a mere silence conversation and either these two strangers wouldn't straightly reply to each of his questions awhile ago. The little fella introduced himself as "Brandon". "So... Brandon... What are you specifically looking for in East street if I will to tour you and your cousin?"

[Lucas Arias]

„Oh, thank you“, Lucas replied somewhat sarcastically as Matthaus told him that he could join – although he would have joined the younger boy anyway. In his opinion Lucas was best suited to solving the mystery. “That’s the way”, he confirmed. “At least I think so. And starting with the drunks is a good idea, but you should let me talk to them. If you approach them, they’ll either laugh, send you home to your nonexistant parents or abuse you, and we don’t want any of those things.”

Like Matthaus Lucas didn’t make a particular effort to sound friendly. He didn’t want to become the boy’s friend, but Matthaus could become useful … maybe … sometimes … if he was lucky.

He wanted to say more, but it was just then that a man approached. Lucas made a face, but as he heard the man’s words – and Matthaus’ reply – he smiled. He’d always enjoyed deceiving people.

“A very important school project”, he confirmed. “My little cousin here might have to leave school if the project isn’t a success, and you can probably imagine what will happen then.”

He glanced at Matthaus as if he were silently asking him if he was sure. Was it a good idea to ask the man to help them? Lucas wasn’t particularly fond of him watching them and possibly spying on them, but denying him could be just as problematic. So with a sigh he informed the stranger, “I’m Victor. And yes, we are cousins. Little Brandon here is looking for people that have a lack of values or morals or something like that, I think, but he can probably explain it better than I do.”