The Case of the Missing Cooki--er, Children

[celestial_wizard]

WHO: Various Interested Parties (i.e. Anyone! Newbies, Oldbies, Applebees -- )
WHAT: The Mystery of the Missing Children!
WHEN: in...abouuuuuut... RIGHT NOW
WHERE: Fayren Woodlands and Fayren Farmlands mostly


Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you're in Genessia City or Fayren today, you may find yourself being accosted by an elderly woman in her late sixties. Her wrinkly sun baked skin is dotted with freckles, a long white braid over one shoulder with stray wisps of hair coming loose. Her posture was stooped and she walked with a slow hobble, muttering to herself and trying to get the attention of anyone who would stop.

"Sir.. Sir have you seen this girl?"

"Madame, have you seen this boy?"

"Oh poor me... poor me..."

"Wherever could they have gotten to..?"

- whenever she drew near enough to someone or if they slowed down to listen, she grabbed for their arm with a surprisingly strong grip, and spoke in a voice that was raspy.

"Such a sad fate...such poor children. Please, won't you hear me out?"

--------------------------------------

The woman gave her name as Wuada Tuis and she solemnly informed anyone who listened to her, that several charges under her care had seemingly disappeared overnight. She and her cousin Ai Xudanon have been searching for the children (a total of six missing little ones in all) who may have been kidnapped somewhere between the farmlands and the forests in Fayren. Unfortunately they can't travel there as it is perilous for such elderly souls and won't such fine, strapping young creatures help them out kindly please. A reward of course, is offered.

[ OOC: OKAY. I'm going to be setting up multiple threads so HOLD YER HORSES <3; you can talk with the old lady, go straight on to investigate places, sit back and eat cheese or other. I encourage threadjacking because who doesn't like new CR? Also as a side note even if you didn't respond to the OOC post you can participate. The more the merrier :3 I lied. You can't really sit back and eat cheese. ]

Comments

Talk with a Crazy Old Catless Lady?

[celestial_wizard]

Wuada, once she has someone's attention, displayed exactly the expected amount of concern for a missing child (several actually) one would normally have. If not a little bit more. In fact, she might be a little tempted to shove any Good Samaratin's into going to find her wayward children right that minute. But she'll be patient and answer any other questions people might have. Just don't make her stand there too long. Old bones, y'know.

[explodewiththerage]

"Okay I think I got it. Do you have anything of those kids that I would have their scent on it?" Natsu was being surprisingly serious about this. After all it was about kids. So using his sharp nose to expedite the search and potential rescue was only natural.

[celestial_wizard]

Of course Natsu would take it seriously. Lucy would expect nothing less, her brow knitted in concern. While he was speaking to the old woman, Lucy was pulling a map out of the pack she brought with her.

Wuada stared blankly at Natsu for a moment, not comprehending the question. "Scent...dear...?" That is perhaps the strangest question she's heard to date.

"Why... I... I don't know dear. I suppose I could look, dear. Help an old lady sit down would you, please?"

[explodewiththerage]

Yeah. Like a toy or a spare shoe. Anything they've used a lot. My nose is really sharp." He answers before she asks for help sitting down.

"Oh yeah sure." He says before leading the old lady down to a bench.

[celestial_wizard]

The old woman clutched at Natsu's arm tightly as he helped her to the bench, wheezing a bit. "Ah, to be young again, hoho.." Once she was settled, she pulled her black back onto her lap.

"I dearly hope I have something to help you dears. I can't thank you enough. Not everyone is so kind, I'm afraid. Aha-" Smiling triumphantly, she pulled a dirty, worn rabbit doll that flopped in her hand. It had definitely seen better days, with one arm hanging by a few loose stitches and cotton practically falling out by the seam.

The scent on it is faint by a few days, but there may still be enough to get a general direction. "Will this be of some use, dearie?"

[explodewiththerage]

"Don't you worry. We'll find those kids and bring em back for sure." In Natsu's dictionary there was no word for failure.

He took the doll from the old lady and gave it tentative sniff before doing it again only breathing in a lot more.

"Yeah. This'll help. It's strong enough to tell me what I need to look for."

[celestial_wizard]

Juada's eyes widen at the confident affirmation, and she cackles a dry laugh. "Oh dear, you have no idea how happy that makes me, child. Being able to see my sweet angels again. I may be able to sleep peacefully tonight knowing such a strapping young lad is going to retrieve my little ones. Thank you - thank both of you."

Lucy might joke about Natsu's ability to pick up scents like that, but it was coming in extremely handy at this point. Smiling at the elderly woman, Lucy glanced towards Natsu. "We should go before it gets too dark. There's no telling how far we'll have to follow the trail."

[explodewiththerage]

"No problem. Solving troubles is what we do best!" That and property damage but this nice old lady didn't need to hear that part.

He looked over to Lucy and nodded to her idea.

"Yeah you're right. Are you gonna be alright, old lady?" He hardly meant any disrespect. It's after all true.

[celestial_wizard]

Pfft, Lucy shot a look at her friend. "Natsu..!" Jeez, manners.

But Juada only laughed again, that same dry cackle. "Oh it's all right, dear, he means nothing by it. Hoho." Well she assumes such anyway. Her attention shifting to the boy with the odd hair, she nods once, "Yes dear, I'll be just fine. I'll make my way back to my home once I've rested."

[explodewiththerage]

She would be right in her assumptions. Still he looked a bit uncertain. Leaving an old lady like this on her own was something that sat wrong even with him?

"You're sure? We could probably find someone to help you get back home safely."

[celestial_wizard]

Juada smiled tightly, waving a hand. "You're such a dear boy, thank you for your concern, but I'll be all right. I'm much more concerned about my little ones. No need to worry about me, but.." She waved Lucy over. "May I see that map again dear?"

Lucy trotted over, obediently opening said map and the elderly woman poked a long finger at a spot. "My home is just there. If - no, when you find my darlings, please bring them there. I'll be forever grateful. We'll have a big dinner all of us together." Smile. "Like a family - wouldn't that be nice?"

Lucy took a moment to pull her feather pen out and mark a spot on the map, nodding at the woman, "If you're sure you'll be all right.." She could understand the woman's urgency though. ... she had quite a ways to go to get home if that mark on the map was right though. Lucy didn't want to leave the old woman on her own either, but she was insisting so.. she glanced towards Natsu, nodding slightly. Time to go~!

[explodewiththerage]

The mentions of a family brought a smile to Natsu's lips. That word was quite important to Natsu and he would do in his power in its name.

"Got it. Don't worry. We'll have the little guys back in no time." That was a promise and like LUcy, Natsu never broke promises.

He nodded to Lucy and straightened up from the old lady before nodding to Lucy and joining her side.]

"I've got the scent so lets start from where they were taken."

[celestial_wizard]

Lucy grinned, nodding to back up Natsu's words. She knew well how important family was to him. "You can count on us, ma'am." She assured the woman.

That being said, she started along with Natsu, nodding. "Okay. Which way? Erza's already gone ahead to check the woods - does the scent lead that way?"

Nice old lady just watches them talk as they walk away, sighing to herself. As for the scent of whoever owned the doll lead towards the farmlands.

[kiryuin_shield]

[Ira had been on patrol, taking a break from finding Satsuki a suitably lavish apartment to take over, when he was accosted by the old lady. He listened, taking and inspecting any pictures offered.]

And just where were they taken from?

[celestial_wizard]

[ You kids and your new fangled Technology. Why I oughta.. ]

Oh dear oh dear... poor things, they must be so lost and confused, and frightened...

[ She continues in this vein for a few seconds more before sighing heavily. ]

I... I don't know dear. I just don't know. The children enjoyed their adventures; they'd pass through the farmlands to go to the forests and - why, they'd bring back some trinket or other each time. A frog here, or .. or perhaps a mushroom, or even... a shiney rock.. oh...

[ Sniff! She covers her face with a hand. ]

Do excuse an old woman her tears. I ... I just can't bear to think of something terrible befalling those precious little ones. [ Sniff. ]

[kiryuin_shield]

[He had heard what Satsuki had said would be the worst-case scenario with COVERS, and had taken a much sterner stance on any alleged kidnappings. This doesn't bode well.]

I meant, where do you care for them? There may be some sort of clue in their rooms.

[...Barring they weren't snatched up by living business suits...]

[celestial_wizard]

Do you know Fayren, dear? I've been..watching the precious darlings just outside of town there. But... you don't think they could have been kidnapped from their very rooms?

[ GASP! She clutches at her chest, looking ready to faint. ]

Oh my treasures. Oh my heart..! To think some horrible monsterous person would abscond with my charges in the one place they are meant to be safe. Their bastion from the madness and cruelty of the world. How could it come to that.. oh my heart.. my heart.

[kiryuin_shield]

Considering the nature of the beast that attacked the city some time ago, and the other residents, nothing can be ruled out until examined.

I would inspect these living quarters personally.

[celestial_wizard]

[ The elderly woman nodded slightly, seeing wisdom in his request to investigate the house. ]

Of course, dear, of course. Such a clever young man, I didn't even think of something like that. Yes, yes, of course. I'm afraid my home is quite a ways away, and I couldn't possibly walk all that way again.

[ Which..begs the question how she got all the way into Genessia. Though if she walked, it might explain why she'd be reluctant to walk back so soon. Who knows! ]

[kiryuin_shield]

[Being the giant that he is, and with the augmentation of his Goku Uniform, carrying her would be no problem. So, he's not about to take no for an answer.]

I will carry you then.

[onecream_fivesugar]

[Ruby was just passing by when she saw- Wait... Is that Gamagori ...offering to carry an old lady? That's kind of adorable.]

Are you helping ladies cross the street now? You really can be nice when you want to, can't you?

[kiryuin_shield]

[Just this face, Ruby. Don't go spreading rumors about him being nice or something now...]

I AM INVESTIGATING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LOCAL CHILDREN. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HELPING OLD LADIES ACROSS THE STREETS!

[onecream_fivesugar]

[She's going to tell everyone.]

Missing children, Why didn't you say so!? I'll help! Four eyes are better than two after all, right?

[kiryuin_shield]

[Most deadpan of stares. Seriously, Ruby, why do you have to remind him of Mako so much?]

...Even if I told you to search elsewhere, you'd insist on tagging along, wouldn't you?

[onecream_fivesugar]

[Is it because of her clueless, cheerful disposition?]

...Probably!

I can't really just let a bunch of kids stay missing, can I?

Jeez though, we just got Yang back and now kids are going missing... This place really likes kidnapping people.