1st Testimony: Early December Catchall

[paybent]

[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.]

Comments

[mercuryadept]

[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.]

[paybent]

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.

[mercuryadept]

[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.]

[paybent]

[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!

[mercuryadept]

[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.]

[paybent]

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!

[mercuryadept]

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.]

[paybent]

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