(Blue Octavo) Crusing for Leads

[Star]

"No. I mean, yes. Wait. No. Uh."

Wait. Was that a rhetorical question?

"I mean, like, whatever? Whatever works. I just, uh." Assumed? Maybe a little. Watch out, Clarice. "Yeah, let's, uh, let's do that. Ummm. Hit it from different angles. Okay. Arthur. How's this? You own one of these, like, shops. Businesses. So, like, played the concerned businessman card. You have pull, right? With the cops? Or the city?"

There. Everyone got their papers? Just read the script, yo.

"Oh. Oh, hey. See those two?" Cloth rustled as an arm extended. "That's Molina. The other guy is Barton. They're both homicide. Molina is the lead. He's, like, hmmmm. He's hard. Keep it simple with him. He doesn't, like, mess around. He's cool, but his bee ess radar is probably, you know, off the charts."

The thing to remember about script? Know. Your. Audience.

"Wait. Wait. Okay. Ummmm. Rewind. Arthur, you roll with that. July? You're Arthur's hired muscle. Ex po po, it's perfect. You're with because, like, this isn't the best place." Right, that's better. Don't be afraid to revise.

"Cool?"

Because Kiss Kiss.

[Arthur]

The plan unfolds and Arthur can only nod. Damn he's good.

"Sounds good. I have pull with both actually. Though I've been leaning on my cop associate quite a bit." Lips tense in concern. "Should still work though." A nod.

Arthur looks at July through the rear view mirror. "Work for you?" An idea dawns on the Theurgist and he looks back to Star. "I know you because businessmen always should know someone in the local media? If anyone asks why we all came in the same car?"

[Star]

"Solid."

Fingers tip tapped on the barrel of the lens.

"Okay, we're going to split. Then, like, if we get called on arriving togther, we," finger quotes, "Admit It. Photographer putting extra money in his pocket with tips, right, sure, it's good."

Letting someone bust a lie works wonders. Especially a cop. Here's the thing. When all you deal with is criminals? Pretty soon everyone's Got A Secret. Everyone does have a secret, yo. There's a difference between letting one slip and letting someone uncover one.

Egos are important Illusions.

The fingers reached out and unlatched the car door. A sneaker kicked it open. What? Look at this hoopty. A footprint isn't going to kill it. True fact. Besides, that hinge probably was sticky anyway.

Legs swung out, and padded into the night.

POPclick

The camera flashed on a wide angle of the scene.

Because Getting Some Attention.

[Arthur]

Seconds pass as Arthur waits before opening the door with a hand. Calmly stepping out of the car the Theurgist runs a hand down the dark silver vest. Totally the wrong thing to wear.

Eyes look across the gathered police before sliding to the neighborhood around the trio of mages. This will be....fun? Fun. Arthur waits for July to exit the car as well before leaning close to the Guardian and speaking quietly.

"So, got a good Name out here or is it Jim or John for today?"

[Star]

Spanish.

Ever have one of those things that keeps popping up? That would be Super Useful to know, but somehow, there's just never enough hours in the day to learn it? The United States has more Spanish speakers than Spain. True story, yo.

The camera lowered, as if in recognition. Molina. Just Barton. Oh, Molina. Someone buy this man a donut. No, wait. A hooker. That's what the man really needed. Ten Two minutes in heaven. A practiced motion swiveled the camera on the next strap letting it fall to the side. Just up against the inner arm. Where it could be felt, that heavy, bulky presence. What? Look at this neighborhood. Make sure your shoes are laced up tight. If you own a car? Keep an eye on it.

"Barton?" The name warbled out from the edge of the crime line. "Hey, Barton!"

Jump right in.

[Arthur]

"Arthur works." The Theurgist replies with a small nod as he steps back from July. Molina? is it, heads towards the alley while Star gets the other cops attention. Still too many people to try and walk in there. Thumbs in front pockets Arthur makes his way towards the police line several feet away from Star. The Theurgist makes a show of looking at the alleyway and the businesses around the scene. Keeping an eye out for any sign of the supernal in his sight.