OPEN; SUB-STORY THREAD

[roombamastermind]

Who ⬤ Croix Meridies and you [OPEN]
What ⬤ Substory: Can't Download a Clue
When ⬤ September
Where ⬤ Executive's son's internet cafe
Content Warnings ⬤ Theft? Will Update as needed.


This was almost too easy.

Security at this cafe was, frankly, as embarrassing as its attendance. All Croix had to do was show up and claim to be from the "head office" and explain that someone had complained about one of the computers malfunctioning. She was here to provide "tech support", but she had to take it in to the "head office" to ensure it was working properly.

And so she was walking out of said place of business carrying a box with the computer tower, monitor, and all associated accessories in a box, and was being trusted to bring it back. This had gone off without a hitch, and Croix was practically almost home free.

It'd be a bad time for someone with reason to question her to immediately question her to walk in, wouldn't it?

Comments

[itstillhurt]

Thank you. I do pride myself on being a fast learner, and of course it's so important for my work here.

[The phone is put away. The smug expression is not.]

Oh, and I do hate to bother you again-

[No she doesn't-]

-but I have one more question. Did you happen to notice anything unusual while you were in there? Anybody behaving suspiciously around the electronics, for instance?

[roombamastermind]

[Croix stares at her, before getting an idea...and smiling.]

Yes, actually. There was an older individual in there that seemed to be browsing illicit web-sites. That has to at least be a matter of public decency, yes?

[itstillhurt]

[...She wasn't expecting a sincere response, much less such a trivial one. Was this an attempt to distract her? She was going to have to do better than that. She seemed awfully pleased with herself. Too pleased to have just come up with an easily dismissed distraction, especially one she could so readily ignore. There wasn't even an official record of the complaint.

...yet.

Normally, she wouldn't think twice about just ignoring such a trivial request, but... all it would take is one phone call to follow-up on their conversation, and she'd be on the hook for ignoring it. If it was Azula, the first thing she'd do is ensure the petty vengeance stuck, so she has to assume this irritating woman will do the same. Ugh. Now she was going to have to waste her time chasing down some random, pathetic, miserable old degenerate, just to give him some insignificant slap on the wrist verbal warning.

Azula's smile becomes ever so slightly more forced.]

Thank you for your assistance, I'll be certain to look into that for you. We wouldn't want anybody being exposed to anything inappropriate, would we?

[...She misses the days when she could just banish people like this.]

[roombamastermind]

Yes indeed. I'm glad we have dedicated people like you looking after the public's well being.

[Then...she stopped, as if in thought, and moments later, continued.]

I believe he spoke of patronizing a bar once he was done here, if you're looking for a way to find him.

[The old man had done nothing of the sort. This was all to create a wild goose chase. But it could easily be a case of just missing him, so Croix likely wouldn't be on the hook for lying. It was all part of her scheme to absolutely ruin Azula's day.]

[itstillhurt]

[Her eyes narrow. That... sounded like a lie, but she couldn't be entire sure- the old man had sounded like the truth, and once again, if she repeated the lead to the office, they might just send Azula to check anyway. Of course, there was one way to be more certain, which was to go into the computer shop and ask around. The busy, busy computer shop, full of criminals, who wouldn't want to talk to an officer of the Department.

It would be. So easy. To just burn that smile off her face. So tantalizingly simple. But somehow Azula would be in the wrong for it, despite how richly this woman has it coming?

She hates this place so much.]

I'll be sure to ask around about that. The Department thanks you for your cooperation.

[roombamastermind]

[ Croix nodded, smiling. The old man looking up porn was at least real, so Croix wasn't that sloppy. Thankfully, none of the cafe's customers were all that observant of each other, earlier, so all Azula would have is Croix's own word to go on. Thankfully, the staff would at least be able to give Azula a description.

This is her revenge, Azula. ]

The Department is quite welcome. May I go, then?

[itstillhurt]

Of course.

[Oh, this so isn't over.]

But do be careful while you're transporting that equipment. Like I said, there are a lot of criminals around. We wouldn't want anything to happen to you.

[With that, she turns and heads into the- rrrrrgh- the internet cafe. Maybe she could actually get something useful about the other thieves while she was in there, but she... very much doubts it.]

[roombamastermind]

[ Croix just chuckles to herself, and nods at her words, not even giving Azula a final farewell or show of gratitude. She moves to leave as quickly as possible.

As for her plans, they could wait at another time, when certain people are less vigilant. ]