Adler Dectective Agency

[Kinsey Adler]

NDE

Located in Yu no Kuni is an office bearing the name 'Adler Detective Agency'. A discerning eye can see that both the outside sign and the name plate are far newer than anything else in the building. Old dark wood makes up the walls and floors of the building, a stark contrast to the white ceiling with dim lights and a lazy fan. Lamps extend from the walls offering dim lighting to the already dark room. The usual amenities can be found around the room. A tea maker sits on a back table, a coat rack stands by the door. Behind the desk is a cork board where information for tricky cases can be posted, and on the desk there is a computer used to store files of information. This computer is a portable so it is never left unattended. A pair of crossed swords rests on one wall and on a table there is a fish bowl with a small fish inside.

This is where patrons come, call, or write, to gain the services of Kinsey Adler, the famous detective from the north who recently relocated to the south. Her skills are known world wide and she sees all methods of cases from adultery to murder. No case is too small and no villain will go unpunished when she takes the case along with her trusty side-kick Drake. What mysteries are about to unfold... no one can say.[/i]

[Kinsey Adler]

She entered into the office, her mind still on the men who had tried to kill her the previous evening. Her infamous tan jacket was tossed onto the coat rack before she picked up the mail strewn across the floor. That was the problem with a mail slot. The mail ended up everywhere. She hit start on the tea maker before sitting down at her desk and sorting through the letters. Each one she opened carefully and read before sorting them, most of them making their way into the trash. She never liked taking small cases like adultery, and she was especially not going to travel across the continent just to investigate something like that.

When she got the letters sorted she pulled out her laptop and pulled open her crime files. Her fingers drummed on the table as she tried to decided how to best word her search. 'People that want to kill me' was not exactly a refinement she could ask it to use. She ran a hand across her long blonde hair, currently tied into a no-nonsense pony tail, and sighed. She could understand people holding grudges against her but actually wanting to kill her was pretty harsh. It wasn't like she killed people. It was impossible to fathom how a criminals mind worked sometimes.[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken knocked loudly on the door, sighing. He was lost, and broke. A brief episode of hallucinations had left him passed-out in the underbelly of a boat, and he awoke to a furious fisherman, yelling at him. Standing up, completely ignoring the furious man, he walked ashore. Rubbing his jaw, he noticed his money purse had been conveniently emptied, likely the work of the fisherman. A low curse came from him, but of course the man had left.

Left with little to do, and less to spend, he wandered around, looking for a job, or something to do. Catching sight of the 'Adler Detective Agency' sign, he shrugged, figuring he'd ask if she'd need help.

All of this had led him up to her door, knocking loudly, hoping at the very least she'd tell him where else to find a job.

[Kinsey Adler]

Knuckles rapped upon the door. Slowly she got up and walked over to her jacket, slipping on her claws and sitting down at her desk once more. The weapons were hidden under the desk so she could easily use them if need be. She knew it wasn't like an assassin to knock but it was better to be safe than sorry. Her eyes blazed to scarlet life as she sat. Through the door she could see the outline of a person... not a shinobi. That was a good sign in the beginning. The person did possess a strange blood line that she could not place her finger on. She could also tell that the person was male.

Her eyes faded back to the normal shade of crimson before she called out. "Come in." Her voice was mellifluous, deep for a woman but without the raspy sound that usually came with a deeper voice in a woman. Her back relaxed against the leather chair and her hands crossed under the desk, her feet rested firmly upon the floor so she could easily push back from the desk and send her chair rolling away in case of an attack. It was always best to have an escape plan, especially if it would seem like you didn't need one.[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Silence. Ken stood outside, listening carefully. It was taking an unduly amount of time to simply say 'Come in', nor did hear any sounds of movement. Just as he gave up, assuming she wasn't there, he finally heard an invitation. Opening the door, he strode in confidently in, gaze first locking onto the woman before instinctively scanning the rest of the room for traps. Upon reaching her desk, he returned his unwavering stare to the woman, noting the odd scarlet eyes. As always, his greatsword as on his back, the massive weapon looking to not give him any trouble carrying.

Don't see those everyday. Interesting. Apart from her eyes, she looked normal, nothing out of the ordinary. Dismissing the eyes as a freak of nature, he finally spoke.

"I saw your sign. Due to.. unfortunate events, I find myself low on funds. I was wondering if you had any openings? Or need for assistance?" His voice was low, sounding just like your average man and overall had a tired quality to it. He sounded as though he was going to pass out at any moment, something he'd kill to do. Hesitating while talking, he felt slightly awkward at this, as usually he was approached about a job, not the other way around.

[Kinsey Adler]

Her gaze was unwavering as she listened to him speak. "Have a seat." She said, coolly noting the sword upon his back. "I don't believe I caught your name." She stated, without offering her own. Perhaps it was because most people knew her by reputation... or perhaps she was just waiting to see who he was. She watched his movements carefully. "An opening? Do you have much experience in the arts of detection?" It was a simple question though the words were weighty, as if she expected much for an answer.

There was no question that her manner was closed. She was not an open or inviting individual on a good day, though she usually passed for polite. Due to the event of the previous evening however she was tense, as if balanced on the edge of a blade. She knew there was something odd in his blood, she was hoping his name would bear that of a family so she could identify it but if not she would find out one way or another. "Which port did you depart from when you came to Yu no Kuni?" She questioned, not stating how she could have possibly known that he came in upon a ship.[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken nods at the request, or more like a demand, and pulls his sword off his back as he pulls the chair over. Sitting heavily in it, he sets the sword to lean against his legs, handle near his face. Extending a hand, although he was unsure if she'd take it.

"Ken. Pleasure to meet you, uh..?", he offers a slight smile at his name, hoping to break the tension in the air. Trailing off in an obvious request for her name, he shrugged at the question, pulling his hand back whether she shook it or not.

"I.. used to be one." He says, hesitating slightly. Neglecting to mention his slow shift to bounty hunting, he continued. "And I didn't arrive in a port. Simply walked."

A deadpan stare accompanied the lie, as he was curious about her abilities to detect lies. His left thumb twitched as he said it, a minor movement, but also his tell.

[Kinsey Adler]

She ignored the hand, her claws still resting upon her own. "Adler." She offered as he gave his name. He claimed he used to be a detective and fell into the lies. She did not need a tell to know the man was lying. Slowly she slipped off her claws and let them rest silently upon a shelf below her desk. She stood and paced to the back of the room, staring out the window for a long moment. "It is amazing how often obvious details get over looked. You reek of brine. Your clothes have been dampened and then dried since you've worn them, they also have salt stains upon them." She paused and let her eyes drift back to the boy.

"I don't like liars Ken." Her eyes locked upon his with that simple statement. "In my field trust is a very important thing. I would not work with someone I did not trust. So tell me... why should I give you a job when you have walked into my office and so boldly lied to my face?" She let the question hang in the air. Nothing about her presence indicated that she was angry, only that she was stating facts and waiting patiently for the reply.[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken slouched back in his chair as she stood up and walked, watching her carefully. He couldn't see any visible weapons, but that didn't mean there weren't any. Despite the 'nap' he'd had earlier, he was still exhausted and thus easily irritable. As she mentioned his clothes he glanced down, cursing silently.

Damn. Didn't think of that.

Flicking his eyes back up to her, he caught his name, missing the first half of that sentence. As she continued, he listened closely, still slouched in the chair. Staying silent for several long seconds after she finished, he finally sat forward, leaning his arms on his knees.

"Fair enough. Truth is, I don't really know how I arrived here." A half-truth. One she'd have to settle with, or tell him to get out. "Just that I was in a boat."

The hallucinations rarely left him with any clear memory of the incident, usually just few hazy memories. He'd hoped to just have her accept it, but it seemed to not be the case. Mind wandering, he already began thinking of other things he could possibly do. If she was a detective here, obviously there was a need for one.

'Suppose I could just open a counter-business', he thought to himself, a frown tugging his face for no apparent reason.

[Kinsey Adler]

"That is an interesting statement." She did not elaborate but she turned her back on him as she went to her tea maker. She fussed there for a moment, her back blocking Ken's view. When she turned back she strode to the desk and placed two cups there, one for each of them. Without comment she placed the cup to her lips and sipped. "There is more to you than half-truths. The power that courses through your blood sets you apart... makes you different." She stared into her tea cup for a long moment before setting it upon her desk and looking him in the eyes once more.

"It is not just a blood trait that makes a detective who they are. When you work with a team you must trust your partner. All manner of things can happen on an investigation. It is nice to know someone has your back... but at the same time you must know that said person is not preparing to do something while your back is turned. A bad partner many times can be more dangerous than the criminals you seek. So I'll ask you... if I were in the market for an assistant. Why should it be you? And why should I place my life in yours hands? What is there to say you would not take it while my back was turned?"[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

As she turned, he kept his intent gaze on her back, tensing slightly in preparation for.. anything. Relaxing as she turned, cups in hand, he reaches out as she sets it down. Raising it, he glanced at the contents before setting it back down on the desk. As she talked, he raised an eyebrow, questions bubbling. How'd she know about his bloodline? How much did she know?

Keeping silent, although his mind was churning, he continued to pay attention, although he couldn't smother a yawn. When she finished, he answered immediately, this answer he'd expected.

"I have practice hunting people down. Should you be looking for one, I have experience from working in the Land of Water. Not to mention, as a detective you likely earned enemies. I'll help watch your back, either from assassination or while on the job." He blinked finally, hoping she didn't ask for some form of proof about his former work. He had none. "As for my trustworthiness..." He paused, floundering. "I wouldn't kill you. I have no reason to. Senseless murder isn't really my thing." Another frown appeared before he continued. "It'd be self-defeating if you hired me. I'd lose an employer, and make enemies with this entire town."

Sitting back, he closed his eyes for several long seconds before opening them again. "And, eh, apologies again for the earlier misunderstanding. And you mentioned my blood, have you by any chance heard of Kamyuja?"

[Kinsey Adler]

His words seemed sensible enough, though anyone was capable of lying. She had Drake though. With him about she knew she wouldn't have to worry too much. "I'm Kinsey Adler. Kinsey." She said finally as she extended her hand to the male. It was not exactly welcoming him on board but it was an improvement upon her earlier attitude. "Kamyuja..." She said slowly. "I'm familiar with it, though I haven't met one personally before. Brute strength is the basis... though if I remember correctly something about the amount of force needed and what not has adverse effects on their minds." She said.

"Every blood line has their quirks though." As she said this she gestured up towards her gleaming crimson eyes. "A blessing and a curse wrapped all into one. Though someone that does not possess a blood line rarely understands. They think you're so lucky to have something that so few people have. They never think of the downfalls." She offered a small smile to the male. "Well, if I'm going to hire you on you should know first pay is on a case by case basis. If I'm not getting paid neither are you." She explained. [/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken hesitates as she mentions the adverse effects, debating whether or not to tell her about his.. problem. Running his right hand slowly through his hair, he exhales slowly.

"Yeah. About that.." He pauses again, thinking how to phrase it. Saying 'I can't sleep' doesn't quite sum it up, but 'I tend to destroy things' seems a little harsh. Going with what he'd been diagnosed with, he simply hoped she hadn't read up on it "I suppose I should let you know, if I might be working for you. I suffer from chronic insomnia."

He'd been glad when first told that, thinking he'd been let off easy. Until the hallucinations started.

"Case by case, huh? Alright." When he got payed didn't bother him, as long as he was. "What case are you on now?"

[Kinsey Adler]

"Chronic Insomnia huh? Well I won't have to worry about you falling asleep on the job." She said with a small smile. "Could be worse all the same. My heritage blesses me with insane amounts of chakra... however there is a constant drain. Our bodies never fully develop. Not only will I never grow taller or larger in any way, but my physical strength is... well it couldn't get much worse." She explained with a weak attempt at a smile. "I suppose the men find it a bet more irksome than a woman... but then again people also probably don't think that they are twelve years old based on appearance."

He asked about the current case load and she picked up the abandoned mail she had been sorting through. "I've been trying to sort that out myself. I've thrown out all the cases I don't plan on taking. I have five left though, I just need to see what to take and when. Would you be adverse to taking a simple case first so I can see where your skills lie?" She asked as she dropped the letters back onto the counter and took a long drink of her tea. She crossed the room to fetch the electric kettle and refilled her cup. "More?" She asked.[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken simply blinks at her 'drawbacks'. To him, he couldn't see the downside. Weak physical strength, but with insane amounts of chakra. Much better then what he suffered through.

Shifting his gaze to the remaining letters, he shook his head. "Not at all. What did you have in mind? And.. No thanks, I haven't finished mine." In fact, the tea sat in front of him, as full as it was when she gave it to him. His curiosity was piqued by the mention of a small case, although that did mean he likely couldn't get away with simply bringing proof of death back. Shifting forward, chair creaking, he snapped an arm out to catch his sword as it began to fall.

[Kinsey Adler]

She nodded and replace the tea kettle once more. As she turned back she watch him shift and dodge out to grab his sword. She smiled sardonically as she looked at the blade. She probably couldn't have lifted it if she tried. "Well let's see what I have locally. I don't like to travel unless it is a big case." She explained. Sifting through her letters she found one with the Yu no Kuni postal code and opened it up. "Looks like there's been a string of burglaries in the area. The guard is fairly certain they know who it is but they have no proof. They also don't know where the loot is being stored. The owners of the objects are quite eager to get it back... How does that sound to you?" She asked as she refolded the letter and set it aside.[/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken frowned slightly, nodding. "Sounds good. Any other details, or just thefts and suspect?" While Ken was confident that if he was left alone with the man, or woman, he could wring a confession from him, it likely wasn't how she operated.

"Once we catch him, I bet I can get the treasure's location from him." Pushing himself up, he grabbed his sword. Whether they were acting soon or not, he felt they were getting to be done with this conversation. Strapping it again to his back, he awaited her next words to decide his action.

[Kinsey Adler]

She looked up with a grin as she crossed the room and grabbed her jacket. "Who said anything about catching them?" She asked with a wolfish smirk. She shrugged on her jacket before taking her claws from the desk and slipping them into her pockets. She took her hair from the ponytail and let it hand loose, waving from the previous style. "We're tailing them, that's all. Instructions are not to approach. So that means we're going to follow and observe, that's all."

She took her laptop and locked it into her safe before grabbing a piece of paper and scribbling a note. She titled the note 'Drake' and pinned it to her bulletin board before heading to the door. "Come on slugger, and remind me we need to get you something to hide that obscenity." She said with a nod towards his sword. With that done she'd lead Ken outside and lock the door behind them.

SPOILER: Click to show

Drake,

Gone on a mission in Yu with a new helper. Tailing some robbers. Catch up in town or meet you here later.
-Kin

[Exit][/i]

[kensuigetsu]

Ken chuckled quietly, nodding. "Right." Trailing often turned to chasing, at least when he was involved. Following her, he remained silent, stepping out quickly.

[exit]

[Drake]

Enter

Simple footsteps would be silent upon the surroundings. Though as his fingers rapped around the handle to the door and twisted, turning the knob and allowing the door to creak open quite loudly. He'd only chuckle a bit to himself as he entered the room closing the door behind him. "Hey Kinsey sorry I'm-" he'd pause in his movements entirely as he realized nobody was home. Odd enough, she's normally always in her office, looking up more information or writing other things down. The girl doesn't understand the idea of relaxing. Glancing over at the clock on the wall, he wasn't wrong to assume that the famous detective would be here, but he was wrong.

Shoving his hands into his pockets he'd walk over to the bulletin board and take a glance at notes Kinsey had been compiling on different cases. Though one piece of paper caught his eye almost immediately. His right hand would reach up and pull the note loose from the board. Reading it closely he realized he'd missed his invitation on a case. 'Damn' he'd think to himself as he would crumple up the paper in his hand. Tossing it into the trash can, he'd simply walk over to the window and struggle to slide up the old wooden frame. The fresh air flowed through the small office, it was a beautiful spring day in the luxurious country of Yu.

He'd pull out earbuds and a small mp3 player, flipping it onto his new favorite song, he'd put the earbuds within his ears and begin to enjoy the music while he waited for his good friend and partner to come home. He'd then position himself up within the open window, leaning his back against the frame facing himself toward the door. He'd place his left foot up on the window sill, keeping his leg bent. His right leg would simply hang next to the wall inside the office. His left hand would hang out in the warm spring air, while his right hand would hold onto his mp3 player, resting upon his left thigh. He'd look rather comfortable as he sat there in his white button up casual long sleeve shirt with a pair of faded blue jeans and black sneakers on. He'd just sit there, staring off into space while he jammed out to the song.

"I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride! I'm WANTED(wanted), dead or alive..."

Song Drake Sings.

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