Stealthy stealthy storeroom hiding.
Who: Br'ce and Jensen
Where: Storeroom
When: A few hours after the last scene (see prior post)
What: Jensen meets Br'ce, hiding in storerooms. Br'ce tells Jensen Aida's been kidnapped, and details.
Storeroom:
It's a haggard and slightly twitchy-looking brownrider that lurks towards the back of the storerooms, mostly hidden behind some stacked boxes, keeping an eye on the entrance, and nervously biting at the knuckles of one hand. The other set of knuckles are bandaged with a blue scarf that may be familiar to those who know Aida--the one she often wears around her wrist. Jensen should have been passed a discreet note via messenger: "Meet me in the storerooms, immediately. It is urgent. About Aida. --Br'ce"
Jensen knows 'urgent'. He's had plenty of 'urgent' in his life thus far, afterall, and he and the word are on rather familiar terms. It's with a quickness that speaks of either personal concern or just efficiency at his job that he comes to the indicated meeting spot. And though his hand rests curled around the handle of the knife at his side, he moves with a slow sort of confidence when he approaches the entrance to the stores. "Br'ce?" Pause. A guess. "You can, uh, you can come out. It's me. Jensen."
Br'ce pokes his head out, motioning for Jensen to come over to where he stands. "Captain Jensen. I'm terribly sorry to intrude upon you like this." The words are a little quicker than Br'ce's normal almost-drawl, "I, uh, have rather terrible news." Br'ce looks rather terrible, too, dark circles under his eyes and tension obvious in his shoulders, as he peers around behind the captain to see if he was followed. "It's about Aida. She's disappeared. Been kidnapped." he says starkly.
Jensen wasn't. Followed, that is. He might have brought along his Lieutenant but something about the secrecy in which this is all being carried out indicates that might not have been appreciated. He joins Br'ce in the back of the room, amongst the boxes, tilting his head to the side. His brow furrows. "Ain't no intrusion, Br'ce, it's my job. Now." And he stops so the other man can go on. Yes, the brownrider's current state of being is something Jen's taking note of. It doesn't take a genius to notice Br'ce is seriously under some stress. His eyebrows lift abruptly on that last note. "/Kidnapped/? Okay. I want you to tell me everything you know. You spoken with anyone else about this?" It's with a perhaps irritating level of calm that he's dealing with this news. Then again, it comes with the duty, choosing how to act.
"There was a note left by my plate at dinner last night, after Fall, that told me to go to the stables. I met two men, one Donavon--scraggly beard--and another whose name I didn't catch." Br'ce has a slightly rehearsed tone of voice, it's obvious this isn't the first time he's telling the story. "They told me they had kidnapped Aida to get at me--they wanted me to resign as Wingleader." And indeed, his wingleader's knot is conspicuously missing from his shoulder. "Otherwise, they're going to return her to me in pieces." He runs a hand through his hair, quickly, nervously. "I told J'cor about the situation when I resigned. He asked me to to come speak to you, since this is more your area of expertise. I just want her back safely." Fist is clenched, briefly.
Jensen never writes things down. He simply listens very closely, and the details stay in his head for him. As Br'ce speaks he watches the man's face closely. You never know when you might spot a lie through an uncontrolled facial twitch. Jen doesn't, though, not this time. "These two men, you know if they work here? In the stables or anywhere else? Anything about 'em might help? Why'd they want you to resign your position? Somethin' against dragonriders? Or-" J'cor. "Igen?" He lifts a hand, scratches the back of his neck. "I ain't gonna lie t'you, this is a mess. But we're /gonna/ get 'er back. Whole. I need you t'tell me more, everything you can remember. And I'm gonna wanna go check those stables out, if you wouldn't mind comin' with me. I wanna know where they were standin', what kinda voices they had, what kinda clothes they were wearin'."
"Igen." Br'ce confirms with a nod, taking a deep breath. Nothing but truth coming out of this man; even small lies show up quite easily on his honest countenance. "They're local, they hang around the weyr from time to time. They referenced seeing the weyrleader, and how things used to be. They think of themselves as patriots, working for the weyr's greater good." He runs a hand through his hair. "I'll come with you, but I don't think you'll find much; they sweep and clean out the stables every morning. There isn't going to be much left." He follows this up with a tolerably detailed description of the two men. "One of them, ah, should have a bruise on his cheek." he rubs the scarf-bound hand unconsciously with one thumb.
Jensen scribbles down a few more mental notes. "Right. Local. So these two men you saw, they were the ones that kidnapped her, or they know of her kidnapping? Could be they have her somewhere close, she could be right under our noses. There are a dozen rooms just like this one in the lower parts of the Weyr. Most of 'em are empty. If these men are actin' with such beliefs in their blood we're gonna have a time o'things." Descriptions are filed away as well, with a bit of a pause when the connection between bruise and makeshift bandage clicks. Jen smirks. "I see. Might wanna put that on ice." Ah, punching folks. He puts a hand on the brownrider's shoulder. "You keep her close, tuck 'er in somewhere safe. We'll find 'er."
Br'ce grimaces. "They could have been, but they could also have accomplices. They presented themselves as people who 'happened' to see what transposed, and who knew how I could get Aida back." He shrugs helplessly. "I don't know. They tell me she's safe for now. I have no idea where they're holding her. If they have dragonriders helping them, she could be anywhere. I just don't /know/ anything." He shakes his head. "I don't want too much of a fuss made. If they're local, they'd probably notice any extra activity on the guards' part. Needless to say, I wasn't supposed to tell anyway." One hand gently touches where his knot used to be, brows furrowing. "In any case, they'll get what they want. Now they just need to return her. And once they do, then you can go after them as much as you like."
"You have my understandin' of the situation. You want some time? I can give you a few days. Two, three, that's it. If they don't return her by then I'm gonna have t'take some extra steps t'go after her. Do I have your understandin'?" As much as Jensen likes to be on the level with the people he's protecting, compassionate and all of that, he still has a job to do. "You're right on all those points. And I don't want any undue complications. You made the show they wanted," his eyes flick to the blankess of Br'ce's shoulder, "so. From now on though, they contact you in any way, or anything else happens, I wanna know. That okay with you? It'd be nice if we kept talkin' like this."
"I'll take however many days you can give me. I just don't want a fuss made." Br'ce looks away. "I appreciate any help you can give me in getting her returned, safe, sound, and in one piece." A slightly sick expression is on his face as he contemplates the possible fates Aida is undergoing. And for all his stolidness, Br'ce does have a vivid imagination, and has had time to imagine. Noooo! "Just...get her back!" he says urgently. "I'll let you know if any further details come up. As soon as they do. I'll, uh..." He thinks frantically for a moment. "I'll pass messages to your guardsmen to pass to you. I really don't want the kidnappers knowing I've talked to you."
Jensen pauses, his jaw clenching, slightly surprised by that little outburst. Hm. "Gonna get 'er back. You just let me do my job. And you can keep an eye out and an ear open too. Stay focused. Me'n mine are gonna get your girl back for you." He turns, glances at the exit, and mutters, "Should probably be gettin' back. Sooner we start workin' on figurin' this mystery out the better."
Br'ce nods. "Thank you, Captain. I'll stay here for a few minutes, so nobody thinks we're talking to each other." Time to start gnawing on his knuckles again and pacing, and glancing nervously towards the exit.
Where: Storeroom
When: A few hours after the last scene (see prior post)
What: Jensen meets Br'ce, hiding in storerooms. Br'ce tells Jensen Aida's been kidnapped, and details.
Storeroom:
It's a haggard and slightly twitchy-looking brownrider that lurks towards the back of the storerooms, mostly hidden behind some stacked boxes, keeping an eye on the entrance, and nervously biting at the knuckles of one hand. The other set of knuckles are bandaged with a blue scarf that may be familiar to those who know Aida--the one she often wears around her wrist. Jensen should have been passed a discreet note via messenger: "Meet me in the storerooms, immediately. It is urgent. About Aida. --Br'ce"
Jensen knows 'urgent'. He's had plenty of 'urgent' in his life thus far, afterall, and he and the word are on rather familiar terms. It's with a quickness that speaks of either personal concern or just efficiency at his job that he comes to the indicated meeting spot. And though his hand rests curled around the handle of the knife at his side, he moves with a slow sort of confidence when he approaches the entrance to the stores. "Br'ce?" Pause. A guess. "You can, uh, you can come out. It's me. Jensen."
Br'ce pokes his head out, motioning for Jensen to come over to where he stands. "Captain Jensen. I'm terribly sorry to intrude upon you like this." The words are a little quicker than Br'ce's normal almost-drawl, "I, uh, have rather terrible news." Br'ce looks rather terrible, too, dark circles under his eyes and tension obvious in his shoulders, as he peers around behind the captain to see if he was followed. "It's about Aida. She's disappeared. Been kidnapped." he says starkly.
Jensen wasn't. Followed, that is. He might have brought along his Lieutenant but something about the secrecy in which this is all being carried out indicates that might not have been appreciated. He joins Br'ce in the back of the room, amongst the boxes, tilting his head to the side. His brow furrows. "Ain't no intrusion, Br'ce, it's my job. Now." And he stops so the other man can go on. Yes, the brownrider's current state of being is something Jen's taking note of. It doesn't take a genius to notice Br'ce is seriously under some stress. His eyebrows lift abruptly on that last note. "/Kidnapped/? Okay. I want you to tell me everything you know. You spoken with anyone else about this?" It's with a perhaps irritating level of calm that he's dealing with this news. Then again, it comes with the duty, choosing how to act.
"There was a note left by my plate at dinner last night, after Fall, that told me to go to the stables. I met two men, one Donavon--scraggly beard--and another whose name I didn't catch." Br'ce has a slightly rehearsed tone of voice, it's obvious this isn't the first time he's telling the story. "They told me they had kidnapped Aida to get at me--they wanted me to resign as Wingleader." And indeed, his wingleader's knot is conspicuously missing from his shoulder. "Otherwise, they're going to return her to me in pieces." He runs a hand through his hair, quickly, nervously. "I told J'cor about the situation when I resigned. He asked me to to come speak to you, since this is more your area of expertise. I just want her back safely." Fist is clenched, briefly.
Jensen never writes things down. He simply listens very closely, and the details stay in his head for him. As Br'ce speaks he watches the man's face closely. You never know when you might spot a lie through an uncontrolled facial twitch. Jen doesn't, though, not this time. "These two men, you know if they work here? In the stables or anywhere else? Anything about 'em might help? Why'd they want you to resign your position? Somethin' against dragonriders? Or-" J'cor. "Igen?" He lifts a hand, scratches the back of his neck. "I ain't gonna lie t'you, this is a mess. But we're /gonna/ get 'er back. Whole. I need you t'tell me more, everything you can remember. And I'm gonna wanna go check those stables out, if you wouldn't mind comin' with me. I wanna know where they were standin', what kinda voices they had, what kinda clothes they were wearin'."
"Igen." Br'ce confirms with a nod, taking a deep breath. Nothing but truth coming out of this man; even small lies show up quite easily on his honest countenance. "They're local, they hang around the weyr from time to time. They referenced seeing the weyrleader, and how things used to be. They think of themselves as patriots, working for the weyr's greater good." He runs a hand through his hair. "I'll come with you, but I don't think you'll find much; they sweep and clean out the stables every morning. There isn't going to be much left." He follows this up with a tolerably detailed description of the two men. "One of them, ah, should have a bruise on his cheek." he rubs the scarf-bound hand unconsciously with one thumb.
Jensen scribbles down a few more mental notes. "Right. Local. So these two men you saw, they were the ones that kidnapped her, or they know of her kidnapping? Could be they have her somewhere close, she could be right under our noses. There are a dozen rooms just like this one in the lower parts of the Weyr. Most of 'em are empty. If these men are actin' with such beliefs in their blood we're gonna have a time o'things." Descriptions are filed away as well, with a bit of a pause when the connection between bruise and makeshift bandage clicks. Jen smirks. "I see. Might wanna put that on ice." Ah, punching folks. He puts a hand on the brownrider's shoulder. "You keep her close, tuck 'er in somewhere safe. We'll find 'er."
Br'ce grimaces. "They could have been, but they could also have accomplices. They presented themselves as people who 'happened' to see what transposed, and who knew how I could get Aida back." He shrugs helplessly. "I don't know. They tell me she's safe for now. I have no idea where they're holding her. If they have dragonriders helping them, she could be anywhere. I just don't /know/ anything." He shakes his head. "I don't want too much of a fuss made. If they're local, they'd probably notice any extra activity on the guards' part. Needless to say, I wasn't supposed to tell anyway." One hand gently touches where his knot used to be, brows furrowing. "In any case, they'll get what they want. Now they just need to return her. And once they do, then you can go after them as much as you like."
"You have my understandin' of the situation. You want some time? I can give you a few days. Two, three, that's it. If they don't return her by then I'm gonna have t'take some extra steps t'go after her. Do I have your understandin'?" As much as Jensen likes to be on the level with the people he's protecting, compassionate and all of that, he still has a job to do. "You're right on all those points. And I don't want any undue complications. You made the show they wanted," his eyes flick to the blankess of Br'ce's shoulder, "so. From now on though, they contact you in any way, or anything else happens, I wanna know. That okay with you? It'd be nice if we kept talkin' like this."
"I'll take however many days you can give me. I just don't want a fuss made." Br'ce looks away. "I appreciate any help you can give me in getting her returned, safe, sound, and in one piece." A slightly sick expression is on his face as he contemplates the possible fates Aida is undergoing. And for all his stolidness, Br'ce does have a vivid imagination, and has had time to imagine. Noooo! "Just...get her back!" he says urgently. "I'll let you know if any further details come up. As soon as they do. I'll, uh..." He thinks frantically for a moment. "I'll pass messages to your guardsmen to pass to you. I really don't want the kidnappers knowing I've talked to you."
Jensen pauses, his jaw clenching, slightly surprised by that little outburst. Hm. "Gonna get 'er back. You just let me do my job. And you can keep an eye out and an ear open too. Stay focused. Me'n mine are gonna get your girl back for you." He turns, glances at the exit, and mutters, "Should probably be gettin' back. Sooner we start workin' on figurin' this mystery out the better."
Br'ce nods. "Thank you, Captain. I'll stay here for a few minutes, so nobody thinks we're talking to each other." Time to start gnawing on his knuckles again and pacing, and glancing nervously towards the exit.