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[Sup, Anatole. There is a confident-looking youth sitting at a table, centered in the camera. Close-cropped blue hair and a matching hat frame an androgynous face, and at first it is difficult to guess the gender of the person gazing keenly at the Forge. The voice, however, is female enough, although on the deep side.Hello. If I understand
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This place almost feels like a city out of time, doesn't it? Rather more contemporary to 1880 than 2012, certainly. It's an odd place, really.
[She smiles.]
You look so young for a consulting detective! I'm only a bit of an amateur detective, myself. Some might just say I've read too many mystery novels.
[... Ned.]
As to employment, I help run an odd jobs company. It's probably not what you're looking for, though. There is a police department and a little detective agency! I do a bit of work for the latter, myself.
[And then reading the texted names.]
I'm sorry, I don't recognize any of those names. But I'll see if I can help you find your things if you like?
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[As for the age thing, she's used to it. It's the gender thing she's been more touchy about.]
It may seem unusual, but it's been an occupation of my family's for several generations. I was raised for it, you could say.
[And wait. Amateur detective? Avid mystery reader? Verity, you might just be her new best friend. She smiles back, slightly.]
There's never such a thing as too many mystery novels.
[Said a bit carefully, like she's not used to telling too many jokes. And she doesn't think this is someone she wants to offend in any way.]
It might depend on the odd job. I have some knowledge of electronics, which seems to go a long way here. I have been informed of both establishments. Could you tell me a little about the detective agency?
[And about the names, she doesn't seem surprised. She'd seen no sign of them on the Forge broadcasts and is assuming the worst case scenario, that she's ( ... )
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[Kind of like a lot of stuff from 2012, also. An interesting time, just a bit before the pandemic and the terrorist actions against St Paul's. Which somehow reminds her...]
I'm so sorry, I seem to have forgotten my manners entirely. My name is Verity Kindle, I'm from England. Oxford, to be very specific.
[Not going to mention the year if she can get away with it...
Her eyes light up a little and she smiles brilliantly at the little joke. Any excuse to have someone to chat about Lord Peter and Harriet Vane to...]Are you a fan of mystery novels, then, Naoto ( ... )
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[Sorry, Verity. She's taking notes. But she also sees the excitement in Verity's eyes, and feels an odd thrill of it herself.]
I am! -I mean, I've read very many from the time I was a child. Maybe that seems a little silly, a detective being so heavily into fictionalized mysteries... but I find them very enjoyable.
[And Break and Enter. Really.]
Well. Someone else gave me his number, so I'll give him a call. I don't want to rule out any possibilities, although it sounds as though I might be of more use in the technology area currently.
[Perhaps that's a nice way of saying she's not sure she's interested. Just a tad.]
...Berend's. Yes, I think I did see mention of it on the map...
[She leans down for a few seconds, scritch-scritching on an unseen piece of paper.] That does sound like a fitting starting point, thank you.
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[Ah. Aha. Well, what kind of a detective would the girl be if she didn't ask that? Best course of action is to make it seem like it's no big deal.]
It was 2057 when I left.
[And her smile returns.]
I don't think it's silly at all! They're like lovely little well-written brain teasers. Do you have a favorite author?
[Her expression takes on a little knowing hint. She is aware of how ridiculous this man is, and Naoto seems like such a serious girl. Verity doubts that it would be a very good match, in any case.]
Oh, yes, it's fairly simple to find.
[Have some uncomplicated directions to Berend's.]
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[Because there's totally got to be a way out. She takes note of the date - 2057! - but doesn't ask more about it, for the moment. Even if Oxford, England exists in both of their worlds, there's no way for Naoto to tell if that future is indeed her own, not having lived it yet. The authors, however, that she can talk about.]
I have several. I - don't think I could narrow it down to just one, but Edogawa Rampo and Seichō Matsumoto are among the best, although I'm not sure how familiar you are with Japanese mystery fiction. As for Western writers, Arthur Conan Doyle is certainly excellent. He was the main influence on Rampo's work. I've also enjoyed Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.
[And she scribbles the directions down as well.]
I'll check it out as soon as possible. Thank you again, Verity-san.
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Yes, whenever that should be. I'm sure we can't be held here forever, we must go home at some point.
I am rather more familiar with English literature, I'm afraid. Actually, I know next to nothing about Japanese mystery fiction, but I believe that should be rectified. For a city of vaguely English appearance, it does seem to pull in quite a lot of Japanese speakers at least, so perhaps I'll have a look about and see if I can find a good translation of one of those authors. Is there any particular work you recommend above the rest?
Have you ever read any Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers? I think I should have to say that Lord Peter Wimsey is my favorite fictional detective, no disrespect to Mr. Holmes or M. Poirot, of course. I just have a particular connection to him.
[She smiles again and suddenly she appears just a bit myserious herself.]
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[She sounds like she's thought a lot about inter-dimensional travel, what.]
Rampo's "Case of the Murder on D-Slope" is his first and is considered a classic, so I'd recommend starting there with him. Matsumoto's "Legend of the Kokura-Diary" and "The Chase" are also excellent and highly acclaimed.
I can't say I've read Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, either, unfortunately. I'll have to see if I can find them here, if that is possible. I... [And a pause, during which she looks away, a bit self-consciously.] It's come to my attention that I don't see many women who have written mystery fiction... or starred in it. I'd like to change that.
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[Welp. That makes two of them.]
Wonderful. I'll have to look for those next time I'm in the library. Thank you very much for the recommendations, Naoto. I'd love to discuss them with you once I've read them, if you'd be up for it. It's that much move fun to read a book when you have someone to talk about it with, don't you think?
[And at the prospect of sharing her favorite books with someone who has yet to read them, Verity brightens up even more. She's positively effervescent.]I can certainly help you there! I've been collecting some of my favorites as they show up in the book shop. I could lend you some if you like. Furthering your education and promoting the female authors is most definitely a worthy cause, I should think. And I promise you ( ... )
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I was thinking if I could gather some statistics about the people who've come through - geographical location, the dates in their worlds, and such - it might shed some light on what you're talking about... the trends, as you call it. A consensus, perhaps. It might be tedious, but it might go a long way to shedding light on the behavior the portal located inside the Door.
[As if that wasn't enough to get excited over - talking? Discussing books? ... There's a bit of a surprised pause.]
Ah... yes. Yes, I think I'd like that. If you aren't too busy, of course.
[Verity. Where. Have you been all her life.]
Th-thank you! That would be... very nice.
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