genessia | First Casefile

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★ yuri nakamura

First Casefile | Video

There are better ways of getting my attention if it was so needed. Abduction wasn't necessary.

[Naoto Shirogane adjusted her hat while she peered curiously at the screen, keeping her opinions on how inspired this little piece of technology silent behind those dark blue eyes. Despite the strangeness of the situation, she was still a professional-- it wouldn't do for her to be anything but at the moment.

A throughful pause followed her cool commentary before she continued in a brisk, business-like tone:]

I am Naoto Shirogane, a detective. Since it seems like we will all be together for the time being, I'd appreciate any assistance you can offer a new arrival. In return, please tell me if there is anything I can do for you.

Thank you.

[The feed ended as abruptly as it began. While being abducted for a second time bothered her to no end, Naoto already knew that she should prepare herself for whatever was to come.

While this wasn't Inaba. This was an unfamiliar city filled with unfamiliar people. Anything could happen.]

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[Moments after Naoto's broadcast, a short, succinct text popped up on her videophone.]

If you come across any relevant information, I would be forever appreciative if you could brief me, Detective Shirogane.

Edited (because I forgot I got rid of the second line of the text, WHOO) 2014-06-08 21:04 (UTC)

[the reply was equally short and succinct:]

UNDERSTOOD. REQUESTING THE SAME. Y/N?

[Shorthand. Very efficient, which means that she is just as to-the-point as he is.]

[Dragunov has taken a shine to you already, Naoto. May as well answer in kind.]

Y.

To my knowledge: the city seems to be a DMZ. Further recon is a necessity, however, to ascertain possible hostiles.

[Whomever this person was, they were clearly professional-- likely in a similar field that she was in, given the directness of their discourse.

Being treated like an equal was always a good feeling.]

AGREED. PAMPHLETS SUGGEST WE ARE 'SAFE'. CONFIRMED?

HUMINT points very strongly towards an affirmative.

Permission to arrange rendezvous to plan a course of action?

[He's got no idea what sort of position Naoto holds. Best to assume it's a higher rank.]

(and lemme try this chrome extension properly now..)

[The formality of that request threw Naoto off guard-- who was this individual?]

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR. NO RANK.

JUST ARRIVED. CURRENTLY OUTSIDE BAY. NEED HOUSING, ETC.

[No rank? Surprising, considering how officer-like Naoto's mannerisms are.]

As have I. The pamphlet and other OSINT sources hint at boarding and the potential for employment.

I can meet you by the Bay entrance. My ETA will be about 5 minutes.

[When you are as young and small as Naoto is, working in a business that is dominated by men, you have to do anything you can to earn respect. For Naoto, that is by using her skill and professionalism to her advantage.]

TY. SEE U SOON.

See you soon.

[Soon enough, in exactly five minutes' time a brown-uniformed figure comes to wait just outside the Bay, standing at ease with his hands folded neatly behind his back.]

[He's nothing, if not punctual.]

[Punctual indeed. The brown-coated figure would find a slender young person in blue not far from the entry, pouring over the rest of the pamphlets and paperwork that was provided while she waited.

Naoto looked up when she heard the sound of footsteps on the linoleum, and tipped her hat at the stranger.]

...Are you the one I've been communicating with since I arrived?

[This boy is who he had been talking to? What a delightfully strange turn of events; it's strange to see someone so young dressed so... crisply.]

[Dragunov saluted briskly, and took a few steps toward the detective in blue before he spoke in response.]

Affirmative, Detective. [His voice is a soft baritone, words clipped and kept short.] I am Lieutenant Sergei Dragunov, of the Russian military.

[The crispness of Naoto's many layers were the result of the amount of time she had spent carefully cultivating a look that emulated the detectives that she so idolized. She stood to her full height when the man approached-- all of 5', including the subtle heels of her boots-- but wasn't intimidated by the tallness of the stranger.]

Then I thank you, Lieutenant. [She offered a small smile that was counterpointed her professionalism up until this point. Her tone was equally soft, if a tad on the husky side for someone so young.] Please, forgive me if I seem cavalier to you. I'm more familiar to working alongside the police forces in Japan, even though most of my cases remain in the private sector.

Edited 2014-06-09 17:38 (UTC)

Cavalier? [Dragunov shook his head, his lips curled into a faint, barely-there smirk.] Absurd. You are dressed crisply, composed and professional.

[With a nearly-inaudible chuckle, he adds:] A fair number of my peers... could learn from a young man such as yourself.

[A faint flush crept onto her cheeks, a visible sign of the quiet pleasure she took out of being acknowledged with such respect from a trained professional who worked in a field that was very different from her own. Although she prided herself in being able to find any of the information she needed to solve her case, she didn't know too much about the Russian military. All she knew was that the world he worked in had to be very different from the heavily gun-controlled streets of Japan.]

Th-thank you, sir. [She shifted, gaze dropping to linger on his boots instead of his face.] Although that could be said for the both of us. A detective's training is very different from a soldier's.

[The thought of correcting his mistake about her gender never crossed her mind...]

Edited 2014-06-18 03:51 (UTC)

Not so much. We both keep in top shape. All that differs is how.

[It was actually a quite interesting comparison: a tall, imposing figure of 27 years, and a smaller, more-delicate seeming younger man, both in perfectly-kept uniforms and of quiet demeanor despite their obvious differences.]

And our methods as well.

[The comparison between the two of them was less shocking for Naoto-- but, she was living the life of a teenage prodigy in a world that still treated her as some kind of rare phenomenon. The simple fact that she was having a conversation as an equal with an adult was the shocking part, as so many of her peers didn't want to accept her for her skills. Questions of her age always interfered.]

...I've not even been here for an hour yet, Lieutenant, and already I'm wondering about the ways this city works. [Memories of her brief conversation with that power-obsessed man were chief among her concerns.] Do you know if there is an active police network here? Who protects the rights of those who wish to stay out of trouble?

I... have only been here a day, myself. [He sighs, soft and more than a little disappointed. Mostly in himself.] I am not completely acquainted... with anyone other than the native citizens, unfortunately.

I see. So, we are in the same position. [The small smile returned to her face. As different as they were, their similarities were almost comforting.] Then perhaps as one professional to another, we can help eachother. I've heard that there are plenty of rooms available for us to stay in, including a building that sounds like it has modern ammenities, and a nearby region with inns and taverns to stay in until we find rooms that we like.

[She discreetly left out the 'high fantasy' descriptor from her explanation. That was something that she wouldn't believe until she saw it.]

From what I've discovered... There seems to be a fair number of apartment buildings in the city. Surely one of those have open rooms for us to peruse.

Indeed. And, the paperwork we received said that these bills are start-up funds. It's reassuring to know that, whomever our abductors are, they do have the decency to concern themselves with our well being.

It makes sense. Assuring the populace that they are taken care of... prevents rebellion and unrest.

[Have an appraising eye through the video.]

And just what can a child like you offer in return for our cooperation?

[Naoto's demeanor didn't shift from the cool edge that she stood upon. This, unfortunately, was familiar territory.]

Do not judge me by my age or size. I assure you, I am a professionally trained detective, and I will be needing work if what the papers in these envelopes say is true.

I don't care who, how old, or even what you are. Can you fight?

I don't make sport of it, if that's what you're talking about. I only draw my weapon if my own or someone else's safety is at risk.

Edited 2014-06-09 01:21 (UTC)

[One of THOSE types. Of course.]

Then you'd best stick to the shadows here. In this world, there's only one rule. Those with power make the rules. People like you will be left in the dust with yesterday's trash.

Eh-- excuse me?!

[That was enough to break through to the teenager underneath everything. What did you just imply?]

There is only one rule in this place: Power is everything. The strong prosper, and the weak perish, or serve at the feet of their betters.

The only question that remains is which camp do you fall into?

...I fail to see why physical strength is the only thing that matters in any world. There are plenty of ways to succeed anywhere you go if you use your mind.

Edited 2014-06-09 02:43 (UTC)

It matters because I say it matters. I hold the power, I call the shots.

[A frosty note crept into her polite, professional tone.]

I'm afraid that you and I will have to disagree on that matter, then.

[Because, unless the documents were grossly outdated, this news was contrary to everything that she had heard up until this point. ]

We will just have to see. I will prove to you, to everyone, just how strong the law of power is in time. Mark my words, brat.

[Naoto said nothing in reply. She simply closed out the feed, but not witout making note to stay on alert for this man and whatever he might do in the future.

Whomever he was, he was a definite hazard. She didn't need to know more about this city to be able to tell that much. And, he was clearly someone not to be toyed with. ]

It wasn't necessary, but they do it anyway. I don't think they really wanted your attention specifically though, it's kind of just how it goes here.

[ At least, that's what it seems like so far. Yuri shrugs then offers a friendly smile. ]

I'm Yuri! Yurippe's fine if you want a nickname though, it's up to you.

[Naoto offered a small smile, softening her professional demeanor, before she replied.]

I suspected as much, Yuri-san, but thank you anyway. Troubling as it is, it's comforting to know that everyone else here has dealt with the same.

...Do you have any idea who 'they' are?

[She won't openly admit it like this, but she was kicking herself for not paying more attention. Had she kept her wits, they would be one step closer to solving this puzzle...]

Edited 2014-06-13 16:04 (UTC)

As far as I'm aware, no one really does.

[ And Yuri.. well, she hasn't really had a need to go looking into it. She doesn't have anything to go back to at this point, so this place was a real beginning for her and from what she can tell, outside of the kidnapping whoever brought them here wasn't up to anything nefarious.. It was mostly the other residents and some of the weird non-people you had to look out for. ]

Before you ask, I don't know if there's a way back to where you're from either.

[...There wasn't a known way back to Inaba.

Naoto stilled at the news-- it was unacceptable, not at this point in the case. Not after she had finally gotten to know everyone and and started to count on them as friends.

She made a soft humming sound in the back of her throat, barely audible over the feed, and reflexively reached for the brim of her hat.]

That's illogical. We made it to this world; therefore, it stands to reason that there is a way out as well. We just have to find it.

I'll help you if you need anything, but I don't really have a personal stake in getting back or not unless we can choose what world we go back to. If you can accept that, I'm willing to see about helping you with any specific things that you need.

Any help is better than none, Yuri-san. [The polite smile returned. Everyone had their reasons for their choices, and Naoto knew that she was in no position to be picky at this point in time.] Although, for the moment I'm more concerned about taking care of the essentials. What do you know about the housin situation here? Is there a room I can rent for a few nights until something else becomes available?

There are lots of rooms available. It really depends on just what sort of needs you have. The place I'm staying I picked because it has a fitness center and doesn't look like I need to mow the carpet, but also isn't horribly expensive. If you don't want to go through all of them, you could probably head over to Fayren. There's a bunch of inns and taverns over there if you don't want to get an apartment right away, but it's kind of like it's out of a high-fantasy movie.

High fantasy?

[Naoto only just arrived-- pardon her surprise, she wasn't epecting to fall into a place that held multiple genres within it.]

Yuri-san, I'm still in high school. I don't think that taverns are likely to welcome unaccompanied minors.

Well they're like fantasy video game taverns though, they probably don't care. Just puff your chest out and put your hands on your hips and dramatically declare "In my world, we know the value of customer service and you're an adult by the time you're 13!"

...

That may be a bit much, but I see your point, Yuri-san.

You're free to paraphrase that, obviously.

No-- I mean going that far shouldn't be necessary if the establishment has any respect for itself, although I have no intention of purchasing alcoholic drinks in the forseeable future.

You're the one who was complaining about not being old enough to get a room above a tavern, you know.

Hmmm... You seem rather calm. Is this your first time abducted to a new dimension? It isn't a first for some of the others here.

[A thoughtful pause, and perhaps the sound of a wineglass being placed on the table by her phone.]

Ah well. I suppose from your lack of wrinkles I should perhaps warn you of a potential future date. A rather unusual pair is attempting to build a school in one of the connected dimensions and intends to enforce mandatory attendance. One of those individuals has a past history of unsafe building practices while the other has the mannerisms of a military instructor. While a school for those who may need further basic education isn't a bad idea... Well, the pair have yet to gain my support.

Thank you for the warning-- however, I am not opposed to going to school if it's mandatory here. Although I do have a professional reputation, I'm also still a teenager.

...Besides. It's not a bad way to get to know the kinds of people that live here.

As for your first question...I'm afraid I can't answer that. The investigation's still underway, and I'm not at liberty to speak of it at this point in time.

Edited 2014-06-13 15:56 (UTC)

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First Casefile | Video

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