Hydaelyn Role-Players

((Continuing on with the investigation, several days after a Date at Pearl Lane.))

***

Lamandu glanced up from his desk, over to the sullen Miqo'te tucked away in the corner, "Lou. You do know that that... finance lady is coming back in a few minutes? I expect the best of behavior."

Loughree stood by pure coincidence in the darkest, most unlikely corner of the office. Pure coincidence. "You'll get my absolute best, Captain."

Antimony entered the Brass Blade office with a brown envelope in hand and approached the secretary with a smile. By now a familiar face, and having set an appointment with the lala earlier, she was waved on in to the captain's office. A moment later, she knocked on the door and set about waiting for a response, one heel tapping idly.

“Good, I should hope so after the mess you may have--” Lamandu stopped as he heard the knock on his office door, "If you would, Lou?"

Loughree shot Lamandu a frown, "If I would what? I'm an officer, not labor." Nonetheless, she took a few steps over and opened the door. She didn’t get out of the way right away, giving Antimony a brief, neutral one over. Antimony straightened just slightly as the door opened and offered a simple smile to the other miqo'te. "Ah, hello there. I wrote ahead to set up an appointment with your captain. There are a few things I need to discuss with him, if you would..?" She angled her head as though to try and see around Lou.

Lamandu got up from his desk, in a rather awkward manner, considering the height of the furniture, walked over to where Antimony could see him, "Yes, please come in Miss." He beckoned her inside.

Loughree frowned again, her ears laying back. She muttered, "If I would what? People need to finish their sentences." And stepped back into the room. She stood roughly in its center.

Antimony blinked in confusion at Loughree for a second before turning to the lalafell and stepping inside. “Good! How has, ah, your work been treating you?”

Lamandu glanced dismissively towards Lou, "Its a turn of phrase, Lou." He stepped closer to Antimony, looking up at her with wide brown eyes, "Well enough. The aftermath of All Saint's is about tied up. And you? I hope your foray into the records was... beneficial."

Antimony's fingers idly toyed with the envelope in her hands, and she nodded before casting an apologetic look down towards Lamandu. "It has, though I'm afraid you haven't quite seen the last of me. There's still much to be done. Ah..." She cast a glance towards the desk. "Which is why I requested time to speak with you."

Loughree crossed her arms and focused a bit of a grumpy aura in Antimony's general direction. The former didn't really seem to notice the grumpy aura much at all.

Lamandu nodded his head, "Yes, of course. I was expecting you. Would you like a seat?" He gestured towards the chairs facing his desk.

“Yes, thank you.”
Lamandu stepped behind the desk, hopping up in his own chair while Antimony moved to take one of the offered seats at the desk and set the envelop atop it. The woman then rested her hands on top of the envelop and focused her attention on Lamandu. Loughree moved over and stood just behind Antimony, off to one side. 

Lamandu watched the package of papers being set down, "So... how may I best assist? Do you need water? Tea? Lou can accomodate, I'm sure." He smiled up at Lou.

Loughree nodded and delivered deadpan, "I'm very accommodating."

“Hm? Oh! Well, if you're offering, I am a little... tea would be perfect.”

Lamandu nodded, "Of course. Lou, can you get us a couple cups of tea?"

“Do you even have tea in this hovel?”

“Lou! Of course we do! It’s in the break room. One of the other officers can help you make it if you've never..."

“I know where the break room is.” Loughree kicked Antimony's chair as she turned around, "Sorry," and walked out.

Antimony cleared her throat after a moment and then, "I apologize, if it were too much of a bother, she didn't have to."

Lamandu smiled apologetically in Antimony's direction, "Sorry about that. Lou can be rather... wild, I believe is the term. So, what were you're questions?"

Antimony blinked at Lamandu, and her ears perked up. "Ah, yes! Back on track then..." She settled her posture in the chair and continued, “Now, there's nothing overly severe that I've found so far, but I did want to keep you informed regarding what I'm investigating - full transparency is obviously important in these matters.”

Lamandu smiled. “Of course. I'm sure you're appraisal will give me excellent insight as well as you.”

Antimony flattened her hands over the envelope before opening it and pulling out a few sheets of paper. "To that end, I've a few questions regarding a frequent, ah, service that has cropped up for just about every business within your territory. It's labeled rather opaquely. "Security fees"? If you could, I'd like some clarification on exactly the nature of this service.”

Lamandu raised his eyebrows, "Hmm? Oh yes, security fees. You are aware of what part of the city that we are in? Yes, well. There are efforts to bring more upstanding businesses into Pearl Lane, especially as the available space in Sapphire lane is getting scarce. And so, many of these businesses and merchants choose to hire on one of ours to keep a close eye out around their wares. Security. It’s not that we do not patrol, but we are low on funds, and it serves our interests as well as theirs to see to their safety. And there is only so much ground we may cover in a patrol, we cannot be everywhere at once.” Once finished speaking, he gave her a straight face.

“I see.” Antimony glanced down at the paper between her hands. It appeared to be a chart of some kind, which she looked through as though to remind herself of something before looking back up at Lamandu, "How do you go about reaching a final number for the fee? I've noted it varies rather significantly from location to location."

Loughree kicked open the door and walked in with a tray on which are two cups of water. Nothing was steaming. She put the lukewarm cups on the table, pulled some crushed leaves from a concealed pocket in her sleeve, and threw the debris at the cups. "Tea. Or something."

Antimony blinked at Loughree and then at the cups. One ear twitched. “Ah! Thank... you, miss.”

Lamandu looked down at the 'tea', "Lou, have you never had tea? I told you that you could ask. Ben would have been happy to show you!"

Antimony reached out to take one of the cups and flashed a quick, only somewhat forced smile Lamandu's way, "It's alright. I'm sure it tastes fine, even if it's a little... ah, rustic?"

Lamandu reached for the tea anyway, swirling it slightly. “Hmm... rustic is one way to put it.”

Loughree was about to say something unfriendly to Lormandu, but her attention was taken by Antimony instead. "Right. Rustic." After a pause, she declared, "This is how we made tea at home growing up. If you want it different have Ben make it."

Antimony smiled briefly at Loughree before bringing the cup up to take a small sip. She tried to avoid drinking the loose leaves, but isn't really successful.

“Are you sure that you would not like something less... rustic?”

“Ah, this is fine,” Antimony assured. “Water is water, after all, and I can't be choosy in a desert.”

Loughree grabbed the second cup, "She likes it. You don't have to. Is this meeting about my tea now?" She put the cup to her lips and took a sip. Her ears immediately lay flat on her head, but she swallowed anyway.

Lamandu smiled, "Of course. Very sensible. So, where were we? Oh yes, the calculation of security fees. It’s based on an hourly rate, the level of attention required, and the estimated value of wares."

Antimony nodded as Lamandu speaks and, taking a pen from the envelop, made a few notes alongside the chart.

Loughree stood frozen with the cup of tea under her nose for several long moments. Her ears sort of shivered on her head and her tail poofed a bit. Then she calmly put it down and walks around to the other side of the table to stand behind Antimony again, looking a bit lost.

“This security fee is optional? Or would you consider it a standard tax leveed on all business in your purview?” Antimony took another sip of her "tea" and wrinkled her nose at the taste of the leaves before catching herself and smoothing out her expression to something more polite.

Lamandu's eyes widened in surprise, "A tax? Of course not! It’s a way to encourage business and boost the station's funding. The Immortal Flames tends to overlook our budgetary needs."

Loughree touched Anti's shoulder and whispered, "You don't have to drink that."

Antimony tilted her head slightly, considering Lamandu's words before looking briefly flustered at Loughree's. "Oh, no, it's not a bother," she kind of stumbled over, "Really, it's lovely." And then to Lamandu, "Alright. Would you say those that don't pay the fee are victim to significantly more criminal activity than those who do?"

Loughree dropped her hand to her side again. Her ears swiveled, but her face remained composed.

“Without a dedicated eye and greater security presence,” Lamandu was saying, “Yes, the rate of criminal activity is more likely. This is a rough area, Miss."

“Of course, I understand.” Antimony's ears shifted back against her skull as she furrowed her brow at the papers in front of her, and then relaxed. "I'm going to need access to the records for each business that has paid into these security fees." She took a dutiful sip of the leaf-water, because duty!

Lamandu shook his head, "I do not keep their records, You'll have to track the down on your own. Unless there was some incident specific to a business, records are not kept on every stall that pops up."

Antimony nodded slowly. "Not even a file of registered names?"

Loughree leaned in and snatched the cup of leaf water away from Antimony without saying anything.

Lamandu raised his brows, "Those were recorded alongside the other financials. Did you miss them?"

Antimony frowned at where the cup at been in confusion, then back behind her at Loughree, before dragging her attention, somewhat bewildered, back to Lamandu. “Mm, I must have. I'll need to return and... ah. Well, I've got time yet still to complete everything. I hope I've not been too much of a bother so far.” She smiled then, ears relaxing to either side of her head.

Lamandu shook his head, "No, of course you're not a bother. It’s refreshing to have someone outside the usual here. Where are you from abouts anyway? You don't seem local to Ul'dah."

Antimony blinked, her tail shifting behind her. "Ah, I'm normally stationed in Limsa Lominsa. This is a bit out of my usual assigned region, but... sometimes that happens."

Lamandu smiled slightly, "Limsa? I'm surprised to hear that. Not many city Miqo'te round those parts, I'd heard. But I suppose that you have to be from somewhere! Or I would not have asked."

Antimony looked down briefly. "Yes, well, from somewhere." A pause. "Ah, I believe that will keep me along for now. Are there... any other questions you had?"

Lamandu pursed his lips slightly, "No, I suppose not. I was merely trying get to know you a bit, as you know me quite well by now!"

Antimony's ears drooped. "Ah, I apologize." She tried for a smile, inwardly cursing a likely faux pas.

Loughree just stood there awkwardly with a cup of leaf water in one hand.

Lamandu, however, waved off the worry, "No matter, I'm sure you're eager to get back to your work so you can get out of this sandpit?"

“Oh, it's not that awful. I'm actually rather used to... well, that is, I should certainly get back to work. If you don't mind I'll spend a few hours in your filing room to finish out the day.”

Loughree volunteered, "I'll see her to the filing room."

Lamandu frowned slightly, "Alright, ask been Ben to keep her company, will you?" 

Antimony smiled pleasantly to Lamandu and Loughree in turn, the former of whom returned the gesture. “Thank you. I'll seek you out again should I come across anything else to discuss.” She then got to her feet.

“Why? Afraid I'll try and keep her company?” Loughree clearly didn’t have any qualms about making the situation awkward.

Antimony's ears kind of twitched uncomfortably. "I'm sure he didn't mean it... in that way. You're a, ah, perfectly decent person."

Lamandu shook his head, "No, Ben just has more patience for such things. You're never one to stay still for long, Lou."

Loughree looked at Antimony and said, "Can you step outside a moment? I've a quick word to have with the Captain. Won't be a minute."

Antimony shifted her tail about behind her and then nodded, "Certainly," before turning for the door. "Have a nice evening, Captain Lamandu."

Lamandu nodded to Antimony, "Of course. And you as well.


Antimony disappeared into the front room, the office door clicking shut softly behind her. When she was gone, Lou looked to Lamandu and said, "I don't actually have anything to say to you."

Lamandu narrowed his eyes, "Then why did you say you did? I don't have such time to be able to waste."

Loughree smiled. She took the cup of leaf juice in hand and threw it hard at the one on the table, making both of them burst into a clatter of glass so loud it was probably audible in the street outside. She flinched at her own actions. It was audible outside the room, certainly, and Antimony started at the sound of shattering glass from where she stood just outside the door. She cast an uncertain glance to it before folding her arms across her chest.

Lamandu startled at the harsh sound and then gestured in annoyance. He stood on his chair to look down at the officer, "Lou!  What the hell? Do you want to go on suspension?"

Loughree snickered and said in a quiet calm, "Why don't you just write it up. You prolly can't do shit to me anyway. Now, wouldn't want to keep Antimony waiting." She turned on her heel to head to the door.

Lamandu scowled as Lou left the office, sitting back down after the door has closed behind her.

Antimony turned as Loughree exited to greet her with an uncertain smile. "Is... everything alright?"

Loughree ran her hands over her ears, pulling them back for a moment. "Yeah. He just gets mad sometimes. Didn't really think he'd... Well! I'm alive. Let's have a look at those files."

Antimony furrowed her brow worriedly at Loughree before collecting her thoughts and nodding. "Yes, of course." Remembering where the room was, she turned to head down the hall towards the file room. Loughree followed after.