(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 

Darnell: *nods, frowning* With how far-reaching I already know his influence to be, I'd be surprised if he /hasn't/ already achieved a stranglehold first on the major city closest to him. *sits back and runs a hand back through his hair - Life Light, what should he do now? This is sounding bigger and bigger than he can truly hope to deal with...not that he won't fight to anyway*

Rafa: *will rest a hand on Darnell’s shoulder.* I’ll do what I can to help and I’ll let you know if I think of anything else.

Darnell: *covers the amin's hand, giving it a squeeze* Thank you, Rafa. It's good to know that I have at least one ally I can trust in this city. *sighs and puts away his journal* I should get home. *reaches into his coin pouch and pulls out a handful to offer Rafa - it's a generous amount for a healer's services* Please accept this.

Rafa: That is far more than is warranted for my services, Detective. *he’ll pick out only as much as he’s owed unless Darnell stops him and insists*

Darnell: *shakes his head, catching one of Rafa's hands and placing the whole amount into it, holding the amin's hand between both of his* Rafa, I insist. One, I owe you my life. Two, you may have just made yourself a target for it - I pray that's not the case. And three, I'm sure you've treated many who couldn't pay. Let me help your coffers so you can continue to pay your own expenses and treat those who need you.

Rafa: *studies Darnell for a long moment...and then nods, giving him a small smile* Thank you. *he'll pocket the money and stand up. He'll put it away and then come help Darnell to his feet* Keep that wound covered for a few days, cleaning it twice a day until the stitches dissolve. I'll mix up an antiseptic for you to take with you.

Darnell: *nods* My adoptive father is an amin healer. *in other words, he's familiar with things and knows to comply*

Rafa: *little smile and a nod* Then I’ll not bore you with instructions and will trust you to do what’s needed.

Comments

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: I will, I promise. *nevermind that he intends to have Raida take care of things as soon as he gets home - he'll wait for the antiseptic before taking his leave*

[socrowdedinhere]

Rafa: *brings him the antiseptic.* Take care, Detective. I wish you the best.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Please, just Darnell is fine. And thank you, you too. *will shake the amin's hand and head out for home*

[socrowdedinhere]

Rafa: *nods and shakes Darnell’s hand in return.*
Alem: *as Darnell approaches home the little owl swoops down and makes a small noise of distress atbthe sight and small of blood, antiseptic, and bandages.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *offers his hand for Alem to land on, then hugs him to his chest before raising his hand to his shoulder, whispers* I'll explain inside. I'm all right, though. Now.

[socrowdedinhere]

Alem: *remains quiet until they’re inside.* What /happened/?!
Raida: What? *gasps at the sight of him.* What the hells happene dto you?! *stepping towards him, hand out to touch him.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *will take her hand, letting her sweep him with Spirit* Assassination attempt. I was hit in the face with a fast-acting powdered poison by someone who darted by me so fast, I never saw them. I was saved by an amin healer who happened to be there, saw what happened, and reacted.

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: *don’t mind her as she cusses up a storm and then heals him. The stitching actually makes the process quick, so just a flash of pain and done...she’ll leave just enough on the surface to be seen should he run across that healer again... she knows how insistant healers can be, and Darnell grew up with one so he likely knows too.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *yep - was going to as her if he got the chance, and would have insisted she leave something to show for it* Thank you. Anyway...they've finally made their first move... *now it's his turn, he's just not sure yet what it should be*

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: Well, even if you didn't see the exact one who did it you know the one who ordered it and where one of his associates lives. Maybe you should pay him a visit. I mean, these people are careful, he's not going to kill you himself, or have you vanish in his own home, and your showing up would show his associate failed...

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *slow nod* And with the attack on me, I don't have to explain how I know about him in particular. They must guess I've learned /something/ by now to have finally made a move on me.

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: Even if they haven’t guessed as much, they clearly see you as a threat, to show up after a clear assassination attempt will leave them nervous, and give you a chance to be nosy.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods, thinking* I can claim that I have possible evidence implicating him in the attempt, and that I'm at the home to prove or disprove it. That should either get him to let me look around, or he'll try to block me and I can interrogate him directly.

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: *nods* Be careful, though I'm pretty confident he'll not do anything to you when it could clearly implicate him.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods* It's not while I'm there that I'm concerned about, it's anything after. *huffs a sigh* Anyway, it's about dinner time. *if Raida hasn't already started something, he'll head into the kitchen and they can work together*

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: *nearly runs him from the kitchen, but knows he’s the type that thinks best when doing something, so she’ll accept his help.*
Alem: *snugged to Darnell’s neck.* You should get some good sleep, then I can show you the place.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *would have argued with her if she'd tried - nods* Yup, I wasn't planning to go until tomorrow. I'll meet with Shen and Lopen first, so they know what's happened and where I'm going.

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: Good idea. *will settle with him to eat dinner* ...Did you imagine this...case would be so big when we moved out here?

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *gaze on his plate* ...I knew it would be difficult, anything powerful enough, anyone bold enough, to attack the king himself. But this involved, this widespread...no. *he's scared, frankly, which is why he keeps just forging forward, so he doesn't have the chance to think about that*

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: *covers one of his hands with hers.*
Alem: *nuzzles him.* We’ll figure this out and put a stop to it.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods* We /have/ to. Not only for King Sidon's sake, but for rhe sakes of countless others. Those who have already died by the hands of these monsters and those even now infected and dying. *will tell them everything he learned from Rafa*

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: ...Sick bastards. We’ll stop them, Darnell. I know we will.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods, then looks at them both* I'm really glad you two are here with me. Thank you. *doesn't know how he'd be doing if he were here alone*

[socrowdedinhere]

Raida: *little smile* Someone has to look after you.
Alem: We’re glad to help however we can.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods and will finish eating, then help Raida clean up*

[socrowdedinhere]

===

*The next day Darnell shows up at the house of the man Alem followed. It’s not a huge manor or anything, but it does mark the man and his family as well off. A j’har woman answers the door, giving Darnell a bow.*
J’har: Good day, sir. May I help you?

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *gives her a small, polite nod* Good day. I'm here to see the master of the house, please.

[socrowdedinhere]

J’har: Is Master Gordal expecting you, sir?

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *small, humorless grin* I highly doubt it. Please tell him that Master Detective Barrett is here to speak with him.

[socrowdedinhere]

J’har: *bows* Of course, sir. If it please you, sir, we have a sitting area for you to wait in. *she’ll step back, opening the door wider to offer him entry.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Yes, thank you. *will step through the door, softly touching her arm as he passes as a brief thank-you and just for a point of contact and acknowledgement of her presence and personage since he can't say too much directly*

[socrowdedinhere]

J’har: *glances up at him at the touch, then drops her gaze again with a blush.* There are seats here if it please you, sir. I will let Master Gordal know you are waiting for him.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Yes, thank you. *will go have a seat*