cyclicality | 1st Testimony: Early December Catchall

[Dick Gumshoe, a local earthbending police detective who wishes he was a metalbending cop but is perpetually down on his luck. The good detective can be found at a few locales throughout the city.

A. Sitting on the steps of city hall during a lunch break. He'll be eating from a dinky container of Flameo Instant noodles while also dabbling at a sketchbook. The sketches are far from professional, but they seem to be reflecting some kind of badgermole-like creature.

B. By the police station! He'll mostly be there to do business... or just chat up everyone in the area and look for cases to latch onto. And if someone doesn't seem to belong there, he may pop over to see if they need to be questioned. He may also have a dog with him.

C. In an empty-ish lot within the spirit wilds, where he practices his earthbending. He's also set up a tin can on a dormant vine, and he'll make many a valiant, exaggerated effort to bend it. The result is him holding a ridiculous-looking pose while staring the can down for several minutes.]

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Mia, huh? [The scruffy detective raises an eyebrow. Why does he have the oddest feeling he's heard that name before...]

I'm Detective Gumshoe, but you can call me Dick. Glad to meet you and I'll be even gladder to help you. [He reaches for the photograph and fumbles. Before he looks it over, he flashes her a toothy, reassuring grin.]

Hey, you never know! The lost and found's full of things no one ever comes back for, so you never know what kinds of things end up here! Plus after two weeks those things become free... [He quickly clears his throat!] Now let's see here...

[Now he actually looks over the photo and frowns as he studies it.]

Hm, can't say I've ever seen this guy before. I can check around some records if you'd like, if he came here there's gotta be something on him. [He doesn't even think to question her motives at all.]

Dick, it's very nice to meet you. [She gives him a sweet smile and offers him a handshake at the introduction.] And it's a huge relief to know that you can help.

[Her smile turns a little sour as she shifts towards the subject of her cousin. There's definitely a pained expression deep within.]

My cousin has caused us no end of trouble at the North Pole with his departure, and the Spirit Barriers picked the worst possible time to go up so that we couldn't chase after him.

I know it's a lot to ask to have to check through the records, and I realise that nothing might turn up. If it's not too much to ask, I'd appreciate whatever help you can give.

[Thankfully for Gumshoe, her motives are above board.]

[He offers a hearty smile and accompanies it with a hearty handshake. Then he looks concerned as she goes on about him.]

Huh. Now that really stinks. So we're dealing with a runaway, huh? [Once the handshake's done, he shuffles over to a filing cabinet.] It's no big deal, pal. Helping out anyone in need, it's just part of my duty! I'll do my best to help.

[Runaway? That's not quite how Mia would have put it if she were being entirely forthcoming. However, it's close enough to the point. And it's not like she wants to raise too much alarm; after all, it's not like she knew for certain if Alex had instigated the things that had happened.

[That said, Gumshoe's handshake is much stronger that Mia's at first.]

More or less, yes. [Mia follows Dick over to the filing cabinet as he goes about her work.] Even so, I'm very grateful. How long have you been with the police force here, Dick?

Just about five years now! Time really flies, right, pal? It feels like just yesterday that I was starting to crack my first case! [And now he just goes through some files.]

Now let's see what we have here...

That's about how long it feels like I've been in training for my position, too, really. Maybe even longer by now since I've been studying since I was very young, but yes, time certainly does pass us by.

[Mia smiles at him, as if she definitely understands what he means. As he opens the files, Mia becomes a little more serious, definitely more tense, hoping that there's some trace of Alex, even though really there's going to be nothing.]

Studious, huh? That's good for you! [He says supportively as he does the shuffle.] Can I ask what kinda position it is?

Well, I don't know if I'd call it a position, entirely. It's really more of a life's work that my family has been performing for many, many years.

I'm one of the protectors of the Northern Water Tribe spirits. You might say that I'm something like a priestess, in effect. I was chosen as a young girl to enter the service of our spirits, and to those ends I've been training and practising ever since.

[Gumshoe emits an impressed whistle.]

And I thought watching over a goldfish was a big responsibility! That's quite the tall order you got there, pal. You sure it's okay for you to be taking this trip here?

[Mia tries to stifle her laughter over it, and she just gives him a rather amused, though faux-sceptical expression.]

You'd be surprised how much attention goldfish need on a day-to-day basis. Thankfully, the spirits don't seem to be quite as high maintenance.

But, yes, it's okay. I was actually sent here. Mainly to see if I could find Alex after he slipped away from the Pole.

[And while she's not really pressing Gumshoe to get back to work and help her with the records, it is a nice fringe benefit to get him back onto that.]

Really? So that must explain what went wrong with Ol' Goldie... [He says mournfully as he files through some more.] But hey, as long as it's alright for you to be here, that's fine with me, pal!

[But then, after he pages through the remaining files.]

Sorry... I'm coming up with nothing.

[Well, that's just... kind of depressing to think about. Was Gumshoe not feeding Goldie every day? Mia just looks kind of dumbfounded at Gumshoe for a moment.

[And the moment naturally fades away to other topics, so at least she's not too bent out of shape over a pet fish she's never even seen before. Now it's just being saddened that either Alex hasn't come through here or that there's no record that he had.]

No, it's fine, [she says to make Gumshoe feel a little better about the apology.] I figured it was a long shot at best. I mean, maybe it's even better that way; if you had a record here on him, that would have meant he'd gotten into trouble while he was here, right? [She flashes him a brief smile, even though she's still somewhat disappointed.]

[Gumshoe gives a crooked smile right back, trying his best to be reassuring.]

Yeah... That's the spirit, pal! This means that wherever he is, he's clean as a whistle! I'm sure he'll turn up eventually if you give it time. Kids these days always like to go on journeys to find themselves! Me, I never made it past the harbor in my youth, but I always figured I must've been the exception!

[Well, Mia certainly can understand not leaving one's hometown. That would have been her if it hadn't been for both Unalaq and Alex.]

Well, I guess I can relate a little bit. I'm certainly learning a lot about myself now that I'm out in the wide open world.

At any rate, hopefully I'll catch you around at some point. You've been really helpful.

[She puts her hands in front of her and gives Gumshoe a bow.]

Hey, it's the least I can do, pal. [He smiles and scratches at his head. Then he does a clumsy attempt at imitating her pal.]

If you ever need any police assistance again... just holler!

I will definitely do that. Thanks again!

[And with that, she makes her way out of the police station. As she reaches the hallway out, she turns around and gives Gumshoe a sweet smile.]

Gee, you're welcome. You take care! [He smiles bashfully as she departs.]

1st Testimony: Early December Catchall

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