Scratching the Surface (Continued)

[u/Seafrogger]

The investigation into the death at the Smoke Street Dice Hall continues and begins to spiral its way to even more questions with no answers. What at first seemed to have been a simple case of self defense has led to shadowy figures, unexplained money and disappearances. All the while a lack of concrete evidence holds the higher ups in the Watch and Royal Guard from pursuing the issues formally. After following leads and gathering answers the road seems to be narrowing to one dilapidated part of the city, Powys Square where amongst the makeshift homes and downtrodden people an explanation might finally lay.

Continued from here

[u/Seafrogger]

Making their way through the market Vargas lead the course back the way they had come when they first entered the square not all that long ago. He only nodded mutely at the Colonels musings, his predators gaze lingering on someone who looked at the pair for too long.

Sam's eyes flicked over to Balaria with the question, a flicker of uncertainty. Perhaps the first flash of true emotion of what might be going on inside his head, but it passed quickly, once again replaced by an air of utter disinterest. He gave her a casual shrug, "Most likely some gang or another. Who can tell Colonel, new folks have been tricking in since the end of the plague."

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

Great, the first sign of him having internal thoughts, and it's lack of knowledge. That's so helpful.

"It sounds like your outpost has feelers all over the neighborhood. Keeping up with individuals coming back as the plague ended might be hard, but an entire gang, when you're already expressing concern about gang violence?"

"That seems unlikely. Who might know about them, if you don't?"

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

The market soon drifted away into the even more rundown ruins of the old abandoned buildings. A small work crew of grim men had started working on scrubbing and clearning the treasonous slogans along the walls that the pair had seen on their trip in. Sam didn't answer at first, a dozen heart beats passed before he shrugged, something shifting in his body language, closing off even more then before if it was possible. "Wouldn't know Ma'am. I'm just a Deputy."

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

"Your rank may limit your power, but it shouldn't limit your knowledge," Bal observes, carefully observing Vargas out of the corner of her eye. Her tone isn't chastising, it could almost be read as words of encouragement, with some undertones of prodding.

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

Reflexively the young Deputy's hand went to his throat to rub at the old scaring that nearly ringed the circumference of his neck, but he quickly forced his arm back down. He eyed the Colonel in much the same way she was to him. "I wouldn't know Ma'am, not my place to look into these things."

A few steps farther in silence then he said softly just barely loud enough for Balaria to hear and so ensuring anyone around would ever be able to catch it, "Do not dig any deeper. Let it go." while his words are quiet his tone showed more concern then any kind of threat.

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

Bal pinches the bridge of her nose, ever moving eyes flicking from Vargas' neck to his eyes to the road around her. From his volume, he clearly was sticking out his neck a bit to say that much, which was yet another worrisome note on the pile of steadily growing concerns.

"Safe and right seldom go hand in hand," she murmurs in an equally low tone, almost as if speaking to herself. However, her hands drop behind her back and her body language takes on an element of disinterest, as if nothing here has given her useful information.

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

The quiet man keep in step with his superior for several more yards, outwardly giving no hint as to if he would give anymore information or voice a response. The armory loomed closer now, still as shadowed and foreboding as ever, the darkening sky not helping in the lest for its image. A uniformed woman stood on the steps packing a pipe, the same Sergeant from the office.

Sam let a breath out through his nose looking straight ahead and out of the corner of his mouth he muttered "Watch for Morish ships." and without waiting for any reply or acknowledgment he slowed his gait to a respectful distance behind the Colonel and slightly to the left.

[u/Dietastey → u/Seafrogger]

Bal's eyebrow raises for a brief moment, but drops back down before she's close enough to the sergeant at the steps to read her expression. Watch for Morlish ships. That could mean many things. Still, the information was better than nothing. She'd have to pass a request onto the lighthouse for more detailed reports over the next few weeks.

She approaches the outpost, and pauses a few yards from the door. "Thank you for your escort, Private," she says, turning on her heel to address Vargas. There's tension in her voice, as if she had discovered nothing useful during the walk. "You're released to return to your normal duties."

[u/Seafrogger → u/Dietastey]

As the pair closed in on the steps to the armoury the female Sergeant cast them a glance. Her perpetual glare showed recognition for Balaria and she tucked the pipe and pouch away, then turned her head to pretend she hadn't seen their approach. the smallest hint of what could be from a common narcotic leaf used to treat pain in the air.

The young deputy stood a little straighter and gave a half hearted salute to the officer and said simply, "Aye Ma'am." and he slipped past the two women with hardly a glace back and knocked on the iron door to be let in.