It is first thing in the morning and the sun is only just starting to heat up the hostel. Conni is standing outside her room, a paintbrush in one hand as she slowly layers on coats of paint to the frame of the doorway to her room. She is dressed in a blue dungaree skirt, the shoulder straps contrasting nicely with the white t-shirt she wears underneath. She is barefoot and standing on newspaper that she has laid out, the Nordic blonde nothing if not conscientious. She has one arm tucked into the front pocket of her outfit, resting her right arm as she works but she seems otherwise unbothered by it.
The pool and other areas of the hostel have yet to be occupied by the various lizards who live there, the courtyard actually quite quiet for the moment, well, failing the loud moans that are audible from the doorway leading to one of the rooms on the bottom floor. There's no indication as to who lives there, although the painted tiger on the door might gives those with Sherlockian deduction skills a clue.
Aurelie is not a creature of the morning, so the lissome, blonde is slinking her way out of the communal kitchen with an obscenely large coffee mug. Bright eyed she may be, but it's behind eyes that she hasn't quite coaxed to be fully open yet, and her red hair is gathered up into a haphazard twist atop her head. She's wearing a pale blue yukata with a koi fish motif, belted at the middle and falling off of one shoulder, bare underneath. She eyes the morning rays suspiciously.
Bearing her percolated Holy Grail, Aurelie makes her way past Conni and her painting project, unseeing at first...then she stops, thinks, backs up, watches the tall blonde for a second, then continues on her way to the couches in the common room, giving a languid wave and adding, "Thanks for using the newspaper, Doll!" The weary willowy woman glides onto a loveseat, kicking up her flip-flopped feet with the blue toenail polish on the arm of the couch while she sips her coffee.
Angela wanders in off the street and starts taking a look around the place in that quiet, measured way you have when you're accustomed to sizing things up. She's dressed comfortably for the morning weather in blue jeans, sneakers, a red cotton tee, and a lightweight leather jacket. She puts a pair of sunglasses away as she looks about, her expression obviously impressed with the hostel in general. Spying Conni she gives the blond woman a two-fingered salute, "Well. It doesn't look like the gates of Hell opened up through this place. Although from the sounds of it your hallmate either had a really bad night or a really good morning."
The door behind Angela opens up and in steps Leif. He pushes a pair of avator sunglasses up to rest on the top of his head. He was wearing a pair of khaki shorts, a blue Billiabong T-shirt with long sleeves, and running shoes. He lets out a whistle, "Nice place. Where was this when I was down and out." He gives Angela grin as he starts to head to the counter and the staff. He's yet to notice Conni or Aurelie.
"It's a pity you missed the party, there was a full blow orgy going on in one of the second floor rooms. After that, I tend not to hear it anymore." Conni smiles and offers Angela a little wave with her paintbrush. "This is Auri's place and her rates are fantastic. In fact, speak of the Devil." She grins as Auri heads past, offering another wave and then watching as she heads over to the common room. Leaving her door open, Conni sets down her paintbrush and heads over to where Auri has chosen to settle. "Hey there Auri, sorry to bother you first thing but I was wondering if I could ask a favor, also I have erm, this." Using her left hand, Conni reaches into a pocket and pulls out a thin envelope which she drops on the sofa next to Auri. "Thanks again for letting me stay, it really is an amazing place you have here."
Aurelie has half a mug of coffee in her. She's ready to people. Mostly. Scuffing her flip-flopped feet along, the leggy redhead in the pale blue yukata leaves her lounging to come meet the new arrivals, offering a drowsy wave and a playful grin. "If it was a really, really good night," she tips a wink of a sea-green eye at Angela, "he might've pulled something this morning. It's been known to happen, or so I'm told." She swaps her coffee mug to her left hand to offer the right one to Angela. "I'm Aurelie, this is my place. Welcome."
As Leif arrives, Aurelie cracks a broad grin and laughs, with all the smoky hoarsness of a voice that's just crawled out of bed. "This place was probably still in the clutches of the evil hotel cartel, who think this real estate shouldn't go for less than $500 a night. I'm Aurelie, welcome to Ho'okipa." She offers her hand to Leif, and toasts both him and Angela with her mug. "You guys like coffee? I just put on a pot. That's a lie, somebody I pay made the pot, but it's close enough. And it's good. Conni!" She whoops over at the Nordic blonde-turned-handywoman, "Come have coffee with us. It's too early for being productive."
Perching on the arm of the nearest chair, Auri curiously plucks up the envelope from Conni and slides a finger under the seal. "I love having you here, Babe, it's no trouble. What's this?" Let's see if she remembers how to read this early in the morning. "Oh, yeah," she echoes, "It was a full sized orgy coupled with a freakin' horror movie. The crime scene is still a mess, they were all hellfire quick to get pictures, but they can't clean it up yet, not done investigating. I have to go through with air freshener every day." She grins wryly.
Angela smiles at Auri's conjecture, "So I hear, although I've never had that problem myself. And coffee would be wonderful, thank you." She glaces about some more and take a deep whiff, "Well, it sure seems to work, whatever you're using. Although, to be honest, the horror movie part is what made me curious to come down. It's possible that I poke my nose in where it doesn't belong sometimes." More often than she should, really.
Leif cracks a smile at Aurelie, "Probably. But it's all good, It worked out for me in the end. You're the owner. I'm Leif Haugen. I'm a detective. I'm actually looking for someone. I think they might be here or have been. If that coffee offer is still good. I'd love a cup." He gives Conni a nod. "Conni, how are you?"
Peter sticks his head out of Lola's door, and glances around. He makes a face and lets out a breath, then simply strides out into the hallway, Lola following shortly afterwards. The young man is stark naked, except for a large bandage wrapped around each thigh. He waves hello to the folks gathering in the central hallway. "Top o'th'mornin' to ye!", he says cheerfully as he goes by. Peter's destination is the kitchen. "Some folks lookin' for coffee, issit?"
The young man slows a moment, looking to Conni. "How're you feeling, Conni? Is Volya alright? I kind of passed out at some point. Probably that anticeptic he used."
Lola emerges from the room a few moments after Peter does, the young woman dressed for the outside. Big, clompy boots, hoodie and all. A hand lifts to pull that hood back up as she emerges, peering both ways before she fully emerges. A casual wariness that passes quickly. She's following him, glancing around at the various faces quietly. When he mentions coffee, she states, "No coffee. Empty energy.. no good at all." Her tone casually disdainful of such things.
She's left her board outside, but her hair is still dripping on the collar of the light hoodie that has a single handwarmer pocket in the front. Kilia glances around, looking for someone, and then she spots Leif and ambles over to him, to lean her shoulder against his upper arm for a second to greet him. "Aloha, lover," she murmurs with a smile, then turns to see Aurelie. "Ah, you are here. I told him to come see you."
"Hey Leif!" Conni offers him a wave as she takes a seat, letting out a little sigh once she is settled. "Life is treating me well, thank you. How's the dectecting business doing?" She blinks as Peter emerges from his room, "Feeling better? Volya and I are both fine, we had a wonderfully relaxing night...I think. You seem to be doing okay but I'd recommend more suncream if you're going for the all over tan. I would also *love* a coffee."
"Morning coffee, nectar of the gods, coming up," Aurelie grins, and starts to get up - but Peter arrives, naked as a jaybird and heading that way. "Oh thank God. Peter, Babe! Maybe bring the whole pot and two, three...just a bunch of mugs?" The newly redhead then blinks, rubs her eyes and adds, "What happened? Quit breaking my handyman and brunch cook!" she teases as the poor wounded man passes. Aurelie opens the envelope Conni gave her and laughs as she pulls out a few bills of American money, and a few more that will give her an edge at Monopoly. "Thanks, Conni. I'll pay it towards your tab this week. What's this about you being banged up, too? Do I need to start sending my people out in bubble wrap?"
Aurelie nods to Angela and winks. "I'll bring the air freshener, so you can poke your nose in upstairs without gagging. It's...oh God. I've never seen anything like it. If you can find something out, anything, I'll appreciate the help. So we can get that...ugh. Out of our home. And find out who's responsible." When Leif makes his introduction, Aurelie snaps her fingers, recognition dawning on her face. "I think I've been expecting you! I met your lovely lady on the beach, while I was bitching about being ass-deep in legal alligators. I can show you the room, too. I'd love to know what the hell is going on. And you know, who I can repay for ruining my grand opening party." She snorts, hiding an almost vicious smirk behind her coffee mug.
Aurelie nods in playful faux solemnity to Lola, hoisting her cup. "It's a foul addiction, but it's one I've cultivated over many years. Empty energy is better than none, at least. I dig the hoodie, Babe. You good? Not hiding any bandages on you like our boy here, are you?"
"Aloha, beach Babe," Aurelie greets Kilia as the surfing beauty arrives. "You got an early start this morning, I didn't even know people were alive at this hour. Thanks for sending me your investigator gentleman friend. It's nice to feel like I have people on my side in this." She wryly grins from face to face, giving a little shrug of the shoulder that just won't stay in the yukata. "Might as well be upfront. I'm somehow a person of interest in this mess. Despite a hundred witnesses being with me the whole time. I smell a rat." Then she peacefully sips her coffee and sighs.
Angela smiles to Auri, inclining her head, "I keep vapo-rub around for that, actually. Doesn't help everybody, but it's tidier." She glaces back to Leif and smiles, "Ah, the esteemed competition! I figured I'd meet somebody else in the business sooner or later." Peter ... gets an appreciative glace. "This island just gets more and more home-like."
Angela smiles to Killia before turning her attention back to Auri, "Some of that's probably just standard procedure biting you in the backside, something flashy happens and the brass is always hot to make an arrest. I'd love to help out if I can, though. That whole mess sounds like it was pretty intense."
Leif is blinking as Kilia magically appears, there's a naked guy running around, and now there's talk of Leif being on a new case, oh and the angry break stuff girl from the beach. He reaches up to rub the bridge of his nose pinching it for a moment. Then he clears his head, "I can get my own mug." He winks at Kilia, "Hey Babe." Then he shrugs, "Sure I can look into it. Though first, I got to ask you, you seen this young woman? She used her parents credit card to fly over from the main land and has been living off the gird ever since. Named Veronica Tilman." Leif producing a flip phone with picture of the girl that had been text to him.
Leif stops blinking at Conni, "Uhm... good. I think. Though questioning reality at the moment."
"Ah, most folks just appreciate the power of a hot liquid, maybe a spot of sugar, and the perk of caffeine.", Peter says to Lola. "It's a nice wakeup call without the fright of someone jumping on you." The young man offers a thumbs up to Aurelie. "Roger roger, boss lady. I'll bring two pots, and all the mugs you can juggle.
His cheeks have started colouring now, as he is acutely aware of there being far more people awake at this moment than there ought to be. "Sorry, I left my shorts in my room. Don't mind me." Peter looks to Conni a moment, and laughs. "I started having fun once the vomiting stopped. Then it was not fun when it was my turn for that blasted stinging stuff. I uh also appreciated the show." His blush deepens further. "Give me a few minutes for your coffee salvation. And I'm fine, boss lady, none the worse for wear! Scout's honour!"
Peter steps into the kitchen, the door open long enough for Lola to follow, should she want.
Lola glances at Aurelie as she follows Peter. "Didn't get to fight enough to get chewed up." Which, to this one, sounds like a bad thing. "I'll bloody up the place some more later," she states. She doesn't pause, following Peter right towards the kitchen. "I want food. Something that sticks around." A tad demanding, this young woman. She'll follow him in, looking to get herself refueled.
"Aloha, Lauralee," Kilia responds with a little smile, and then tilts her head to look up to Leif as he pinches his nose, wrinkling her forehead, then there's the bitty whirlwind of folks around them; a teensy smirk for the naked chef, a neutral nod to Lola, and a quick grin to Conni. At the mention of competition from Angela she starts to scowl, but then Leif leans over to ask her something quietly, and she burst out with a laugh that's quickly covered with her hand. Then sh reaches out to pat his forearm, and then leans in, "it sounds like we missed a good party."
The blonde hesitates for a moment before finally answering Auri. "There was an incident at the temple yesterday, we were attacked by some grave robbers. I fear I was taking my Lara Croft 'look' just a bit too far. A couple of very smelly, very ugly grave robbers attacked us, they lost." Conni shrugs, at least with her left shoulder. "I was actually going to ask...erm, can you or do you know of someone who can get hold of painkillers and antibiotics, I'd really appreciate it if you can."
Looking over to Angela, Conni smiles. "It's a real mess in there, they're still not quite sure what caused the guy to explode like that. I had a word with a Coroner and they're coming up empty." Her grin gets even wider as she looks to Leif. "Oh yes, 'that' moment. It's all for the good though and I'm glad you're looking into things, it was pretty crazy." She waves to Peter as he heads off, the promise of caffein based salvation on the way. Grinning, she offers kilia a wave. "Hey Kilia, good surf today?"
Aurelie eyes Conni skeptically out the corners of her long-lashed eyes. "Riiiiight. I'll get a couple more first aid kits." She busts out laughing as Angela mentions vapo-rub. "Now that takes me back. Mom's favorite remedy for cold, sinus, and dead guy smell." She lets her laughter trail off before continuing, her grip tightening on her mug handle, "I know the cops are just doing their job, and I'm high profile and from out of town, so I'm sure there's lots of conspiracy theories. I also know the hotelier assholes around here are behind at least the lawsuits, if not some of the police suspicion, but they have to follow up on every lead. Any help you can offer to get me out of this hot water?" She looks at Angela, the smirk wiped off her face by earnest hopefulness, "I'll make sure to make it worth your while. What are your rates?"
Auri looks over to Leif, bending over to more closely inspect the phone in his hand. "Same question, by the way. What are your rates? You're hired if you're game. I feel like I need all the help I can get." She purses her lips and shakes her head after studying the phone pic. "I'm sorry, I don't recognize her. You want me to ask my channel? It's a lot of people all across the country, I can ask them to share her photo. I can also post her pic here in the hostel, with your number. If she comes here, we'll call you. We see everybody who comes through."
"Thanks Peter!" she calls after the man procuring coffee, "You're a doll! Lola, don't let him break himself on anything in there!" And as Lola mentions bloodying up the place, Auri grabs her phone and dictates as she texts, "Remind staff...to get more...cleanser."
"It was a great party, until somebody had to go and get exploded at it!" Aurelie says, still giggling at Kilia's 'Lauralee.' "It's Aurelie, but Auri's fine, Kilia. You caught me on my fourth daiquiri at the beach, so it's possible I introduced myself under an alias. I'll say this, though, it was a memorable party, and there's no such thing as bad press, right?" She grins. "You should come by my next one! Or come do one of my shows, show my Angels and Devils how the face of Billabong keeps her look in place through the sun and salt water."
Angela smiles to Auri, "I'm new to the island, too, so I'm willing to be flexible on this one. My last gig was $50 an hour plus expenses." She shifts position so that she can look at Aurelie and Leif more easily. She inclines her head over to Leif, "If you're up for working this one together, I'm game. This case sounds like it's going to get into territory that they didn't tell us about at UNC."
Leif looks over at Aurelie, " No need to put it through your network. She's on the island. BUt I would apperiate the posting." He cchews his lip for a moment, "I've heard stuff about this incident. Normally I'd say 75 but to be honest, this isn't mundane. So I'm going to say 150. That's in response to the fact the lethal level just accelerated. If something needs banashing, you'll have to hire your own people. I'm only so good at that." He looks to Angela, "Sure, no need to compete. I'd rather compare notes." He considers, "Do we have access to the second floor? I'd like to take a look around. I heard about a tital wave." He shrugs, "We probably did. Though I heard one guy hid in the bathroom?"
"Surf's best in the morning before the tourists wake up," Kilia grins to Conni, and gives a nod to Aurelie. "Or, I just decided I heard Lauralee, either way... Auri works, thanks." There's a little purse of her lower lip as she bites the inside when there's talk of someone exploding, and she reaches up to her head, fingers working on the damp tangles as the others talk. She glances once towards the kitchen, hopeful for a mug of coffee herself.
Peter shuts the kitchen door once Lola is inside, and he nods to her demand. "Have yourself a seat, some grub is coming right up." But first, he sets three coffee machines to brewing. Taking a deep breath of fresh brew, he sets to cooking. "Going to make you my favourite breakfast." Several minutes go by as Peter prepares a plate piled high with scrambled eggs, strips of bacon, and several slices of Texas toast. "Can't go wrong with eggs, toast and bacon.", he says cheerfully, offering her up the plate and utensils.
A few moments after that, Peter steps out of the kitchen, with a tray full of mugs, cream and sugar, and two full pots of coffee. "Alright, get your wakeup juice here!"
Lola goes in after Peter and will be staying there. The food is there. After she's eaten her fill, she'll be on her way out again, only stopping by to refuel, it seems. Then back out to look for more trouble.
"Bathtub...with a bottle of THC Vodka, he's probably not one to ask about that evening." Conni grins as she says this, fond memories of a strange man lying back in a bathtub, bottle of vodka in one hand as all hell rained down. "It was a fun party, hey, it was still fun after. Well, I know I had fun. It's not like people were exploding left and right, just the one guy. All the naked people were uninjured I think so it doesn't seem *that* dangerous." This last is directed at Leif, Conni's grin impossibly wide now. She cheers when Peter arrives with the coffee, a low energy, half hearted cheer but a cheer none the less. "Thank you!"
Aurelie chuckles at Conni and rolls her eyes skyward...well, ceilingward. "I'll pick up what I can at the store, and I'm sure I can conjure up some decent pain killers...I saw a handsome doctor on the beach the other day, I definitely don't mind paying him a visit. But you have to get me some of that THC vodka" She blows a pouty kiss at Conni and laughs, then turning to Leif and Angela. "How about this? We'll call it $100 for each hour you're on the case, and I'll throw in a bonus of $2,500 once the asshole is in jail. Hazard pay's on the table if shit gets weird. You guys should grab a cup of coffee, you'll want that first, before we see the room. We can head up after fueling. I'll grab the Febreeze." She grins as Peter returns with wake-up juice. "You're a good egg, Peter, thanks for this. I'll have another." She discards her first mug with a passing desk clerk and takes her second from Peter, waving to Lola as the red and black haired woman prowls out. Aurelie's sea-green gaze lingers on Kilia's face a long moment, the purse of the lips not going unnoticed. "I'll show you, too, if you want, but you don't have to look," she adds softly to the surfer girl. "It's not actually so bad. It's almost...not human. If you didn't know it was a human to start with, you sure as shit can't tell now." She raises her voice back to normal levels and chuckles. "I kind of like watching the tourists wipe out. Is that mean?" She snorts a laugh, eyes sparkling with sudden mischief. "So, is somebody going to tell me why everybody's hurt?" It's a 180 shift, with a quirked brow.
Angela looks to have been about to ask something of Aurelie but pauses as Leif mentioned banishments and the like. She clears her throat and holds up two fingers. Angela smiles over to Peter for a moment, "Firstly, sweet sweet protein. You, sir, are a prince amongst men." Then she looks between Leif and Auri, "Secondly ... just so that I'm up to speed ... just what -is- the weirdness quotient around here? I was raised with more than most but I've only got the one notch on my blade so far." She notes the various injuries, "I'm thinking I need to either start carrying my knife more often or ask Granpa Dave if I can borrow his spear."
Leif nods, "That will work on the price. Please no Febreeze. I would prefer to see the scene as it is and not altered." He says as he shakes his head, "I'd prefer Kilia stays out of it. She does her thing and I do mine." He the adds, "I would also like to set up a private viewing later today or tomorrow. There are some things that I would like to view and I don't wish to tread on others uniqueness." He grins at Conni, "THC Vodka? Well that explains the reports of a pair of Odin's Shield maidens running around. I'd heard something about all the naked people dying, a dark summoning, and a tital wave. Some people see some crazy shit." He picks up his coffee and sips it. "Perfect." He then adds, "You know how it goes. It's always there ignoring you if you ignore it till it doesn't. As for the spear, I'd get a case that hid what it was, or you'll be adding to the weird." He pauses to kiss Kilia. "I'll see you later." Then back to Angela and Aurelie as he knew they were coming, "Ladies?"
"I am no prince, miss, just a hard working dude." Peter flashes a bright smile to Angela as he goes about distributing the coffee. "There's cream and sugar here, as well as spoons. Have at, yeah?" The young man offers a wave to Lola when she leaves, and chuckles at Conni's reaction to the coffee's arrival. "I know you're actually cheering on the coffee, but it makes me feel useful.", he says to her.
Peter raises an eyebrow at Aurelie's statement. "Twentyfive hundred for the dude's jailing? I'm in the wrong line of work!" Setting the tray and coffee pots down on a small table, Peter looks to the crowd and grins. "Well, enjoy! I'm going to go get dressed now. See you!"
Giving a shake of her head, Kilia echoes Leif. "This isn't really my scene. I get all green and... sometimes add to the mess, so... I'll leave it for Leif." She gives a little peaked smile to the hostess, and her man. She finally manages some semblence of order to her hair, while glancing around at the different conversations, a tiny smirk at the mention of shield maidens to Conni, and is reaching for a mug when she catches a glimpse of the time. "Oh... speaking of the face of billabong.." she gives a less strained smile to the others. "This one is due in make-up soon." She returns Leif's kiss, and then wraps her arm around his waist a moment to squeeze, and then she's off.
"Thank you, it would be appreciated. We got a little torn up yesterday, Peter, myself and Vee were injured. As I said, they were deeply ugly grave robbers." Conni raises and eyebrow as she says this, eyes locking with Auri's for just a moment as she mouths a word to her. "It was nasty but we won out in the end, we had to...well, we got stiched up by a Vet, he was good with a needle though so I can't complain." Looking to Angela, Conni considers her for a few moments before speaking. "It can get pretty damn weird here abouts, your tolerance for weirdness can certainly be pushed on a daily basis. It is mostly safe though." Conni does a good job of ignoring the talk of injuries only moments before.
Laughing, she grins to Leif. "Drugs are bad, mmm'k. Proof in the pudding as they say. There was water and lightning and a squishy bursty sexy orgy. I would however, love to know where you heard about the shield maidens, that's a rather detailed description." Turning she looks to Kilia, her head tilting to one side. "Something funny? I don't get it."
Aurelie drums her fingers idly against her mug and ponders Angela's question. "Weird...happens. Pretty weird." she finally concludes. "I would not be surprised by anything at this point. So, yeah, something where the pointy end goes in bad guys probably isn't a bad idea. I wonder if I should start carrying mace?" She slants her eyes sideways as she ponders that. "No, this is home. If this isn't safe, where is?" The redhead drains the rest of her coffee and smacks her lips in satisfaction. "Delicious. You do good work, Peter."
"No febreeze," she agrees with Leif, "and you stop by any time I'm here, I'll let you see from the door. Police have everything taped off, but damned if they can stop me from opening the door in my own damn house. But I'm not letting any of my staff do it. I'm already in hot water, what are the police gonna do? Be even -more- interested in me? Pff." She shoots Kilia a sympathetic lopsided grin.
"I know the feeling, Kilia Babe. Think about my show, if you want! The girls, and hell, some of the boys, love beauty how-tos. If your contract allows it." She waves after the retreating blonde, then looks over to Conni with a chuckle and a grin. "That's right, you went all Lara Croft." Aurelie watches Conni mouth the world and microscopically inclines her head in understanding. "The graveyards can be a mess, with robbers and things. Glad you're all up and walking and drinking and...Hey! Drinking -without me!-" Aurelie puts on her faux indignation face. "Well, should we show the professionals the shit-show upstairs?" She rises, straightens her yukata, and slugs back the last of coffee #2.
Angela nods, "Mostly safe, well, that's good. Ol' yona doesn't owe me a thing so it's mostly just a blade on a pole anyway." At the talk of the grave robbers, "If they looked like a cross between a baboon, a hyena, and a lawyer ... I hate those guys. Otherwise I really need a spotter's guide." She moves to follow everyone upstairs. "This promises to be educational." Angela fishes in her pocket for a digital camera.
Leif grins, "It's the cop in me. Never been able to let it go." He shrugs, "Well, I infered. GIrls with wings doing magic. One of them had lighting."
Leif grins, "Fair enough. I won't break the police line without permission. Have they called you in yet or declared you an offical suspect?" He grins at Angela's statement, "Everyone hates those guys."
"Sure, I'd like to get another look at the circle, gods knows a clear head might help me this time." Picking up a cup of coffee, Conni follows after the others as they head up to the second floor, sipping slowly as they make their way. "You obviously told Kilia that given the smirk she flashed me, you seem to be more in the know that you let on and by no means did you 'infer' anything. I want to be friendly, I really do and I could do without getting into trouble. I certainly don't want to have to lug two bodies out to the jungle to bury them where no one will find them." Flashing Leif another smile, Conni takes another sip from her coffee and then motions with her mug towards the taped off door. "As long as you don't go tap dancing in there you should be fine, I've had a look myself."
Aurelie turns on the staircase, gazing between her guests as the banter gains an edge, her lips resting in a serene smile, the slow, meaningful bat of her sea-green eyes sharp as a guillotine's blade. "We're all friends here. At least, you're all on my side. And it's too early for death threats. I need at least another cup of coffee." In that moment, the leggy redhead is a taut bowstring of lean muscle and steel. "Okay!" she chirps, her limbs and demeanor loose and easy as Sunday morning. "Let's go look at the horror show." She leads the way up the second floor stairs, pausing to open a door to an outside room called The Plumeria Suite. "I should be the only one to touch the doorknob," she says with a wink back over her shoulder. "Already has my prints on it."
Inside, the room is strewn with plastic evidence numbers and is generally untidy, but not horrifically messy beyond the messy, broken red circle and melted candle stubs in the floor set apart from the large, overstuffed bed. Oh, and the two walls meeting in a corner covered with the dark splatter of ex-human. Criss-crossing police tape bars entry through the doors. "If either of you can get clearance to go in there, it's fine with me. I just don't have any pull with the fuzz." She looks back at Conni, with a wrinkle of her nose. "It smells worse today." Then Aurelie steps back to make way for Angela and Leif to make their professional assessments.
Angela peers into the room, covers her nose for a moment, and then uses the zoom function on her camera to get closer looks at things than she'd normally get from the doorway. "Well ... the spatter pattern's odd, almost spherical. There's not much left of whoever it was that exploded but it looks like he blew up from the inside. The clothes are expensive, two men's professional suits and two women's. And I think there was some kind of bird sacrifice in a smaller circle inside the larger one." She clicks off several shots for later examination. "What would make a guy blow up like that?"
Leif smiles sweetly, "Well don't worry yourself with that concern. I doubt you could take both of us, honestly. If you want to talk about it, I'll buy you a beer or two and talk about it. I'm just not drinking Mead. The stuff taste like a drunk diabetic's piss. So none of that stuff unless we're swearing oaths in old ways. Let's see what I can see though."
He sas producing a note pad and a pen from a pocket. He starts to exaimne the room and starts to write down details. " Two couples or rather. Two men and two women. The clothing is high end. Two sets of mens and two sets of womens. They were in a hurry. They got messy with their symbols of power. They're intricate but slopply Something, or someobody with great strength crushed the phone. The balony door broke the circle. Several of the candles were tripped over and boot prints." He then finally says, " There's an absence of gore on the bed. It also smells like a highschool boy's locker room and a slaughter house. That means a lot of sweat before the dying."
There was a bit of huffing and puffing as Aksel came up the stairs, holding up a hand. "Hey... hi. Yeah sorry I'm late." He blinked and looked at everyone, giving a wave as his eyes went from one person to the next. He grinned at Aurelie. "Hey. Great to see you guys just let me catch my breath god I hate running up stairs..." After a few moments he was ok and peered into the room with the rest of them. "Yeah doesn't look to different oh..." He coughed and ran his fingers through his hair to comb it out a bit, straightening his jacket. "Hey there son. Look a little rough." He eyed the others, pointing into the room and whispering overdramatically. "There's a ghost. It's our troublemaker." He sighed and looked to Leif in particular. "Please don't spread that around that I said that anymore than you have to yeah?"
Aurelie clears her throat uncomfortably when talk turns to the phone. "That was me. You guys can ignore that. I was in shock." She's just lingering in the hallway, shoulders pressed back against the wall as she faces opposite the room. "I have no idea what could cause something like that. The spherical thing...it's all so...strange." She grins slowly. "The locker room smell, that's where the Febreeze shines." She waves to Aksel, her brows lifting when he mentions the ghost. "Oh. Well...is he a useful ghost?"
"You think I'd make it fair?" Conni's brow furrows as she looks to Leif, a mix of anger and pain showing on her face as she pulls her right hand from the pocket in her skirt and uses it to point at him. "I will not cause damage in my host's home.." Her look darkens and two wings materialise behind Conni, raven black and shining in the morning sun. Electricity crackles up her arm, arcing between her fingers as she looks to her countryman. Grimacing, she takes a breath. "See, there you go. Valkyrie. Get a damn good look. It seems like I can't keep anything secret around here. Nothing to gloat about now, no more knowing looks, no more smirking from your girlfriend. I am a chooser of the slain and believe it or not, I'm here on holiday."
Angela peers into the room, snapping off a couple more pics. "Blood sacrifice, so this is definitely bad medicine ... black magic ... whatever you want to call it. The bed, not so much. So ... " She lowers the camera and looks back to Conni, "Deeply impressive, much nicer than mine." She turns back to the crime scene. "A ghost? Well, I guess you don't rest easy after something like that."
Leif nots at Aksel, "I told you I wouldn't say anything. I just was concerned. Though that explains alot. The question is the spirit was here first or a result of things." Then Conni points a finger at him, Leif's eyes narrow and his hands shift as if he's about to summon some power from himself. Then Conni chooses a different route. "I know. I am the grandson of Heimdall. I see everyone for what they are or I will. I told you I'd offer you a beer later and explain. Ki is try to be nice but she's probably miffed on some level you hit me with a lighting bolt. It's the Aloha thing, it's in her blood. I still owe you a beer if you like. I'm going to finish this and probably head out to let people's head clear." Leif looks back to the room. "She's right. It's dark magic. The bed's not involved. It was all about murder, death, and oilness." He then writes a few notes. "Alright. I'm going to step out for a bit. Aurelie, I'll call you and set up that second viewing. Angela, I'll have you a set of notes available call me at Haughen Investigation. It's in the phone book. If I'm off the case, I will turn them over still. Askel stay out of trouble. Conni, thank you. " Then he moves to head down stairs.
Aksel shrugged. "Dunno. Let's ask." Aksel raised a hand to the ghost. "Hey there. You were at the party right?" He frowned and looked to the others. "Yeah no. I might as well go pound sand. That much is immediately clear. Certainly how he looks probably isn't how he died. He's got a hole right through the center of his being and it's eating him from the inside out. Even if he wasn't a ghost he's totally non compos mentis right now." He shook his head. "But it's the guy who caused it all, I can tell you that much. Funny, he wasn't here the other day." He raised an eyebrow at Conni's bit of information and looked to Leif, his mouth compressing into a line. "Dude." He watched him go down the stairs and looked to Conni, shaking his head. "Did the same thing to me. It's not like I have freaking super powers." He sighed and shrugged. "Anyway, I'm not getting anything from him, but whatever the hell he did took a real chunk of out of him. And it looks like it's still taking chunks. Chunking. Whatever."
Doing her best to rein in her temper, Conni clutches at her checks with her left hand. Grimacing, she looks to Angela. "It was all very dark but powerful enough to aim a tsunami at one spot. It was when a friend interrupted the ritual that he exploded. The amount of magic in use? It could have been far worse." Sighing now, she lowers her hand, trailing sparks traveling up her arm and then arcing into the air as her temper dissipates. "I keep telling people, this isn't Scooby Doo and if Kilia has issue, she needs to talk to me. If she can't manage that, we'll deal with it as per the Accords."
Taking a deep breath, she tries to calm herself as she listens to Aksel. "Something eating the spirit, I have not heard of that before and I've...well, I've seen a lot in my time." She shakes her head and starts to pace the hallway, doing her best not to look Auri in the eye, the Nordic blonde balling her fist as she watches Leif head off, her brow furrowing and she thinks to herself.
Aurelie blinks a few times. "Well. I have black magic and a ghost. I have..." her eyes light up. "I have black magic and a ghost! Once this is wrapped up, I have the perfect goth getaway or honeymoon suite!" She claps her hands in delight. This may not be an appropriate response. Then she clears her throat and processes what everyone is saying. "Angela, you said he blew up from the inside out? And Aksel, the ghost has a hole eating him from the inside out? Fuck me. This is getting heavy." She exhales through her nose, and nods to Leif as he departs.
Then, the statuesque redhead turns to Conni, and offers her a luscious half-smile. "Whatever you are, Conni, you're sexy as hell, the finest drinker I know, and my guest and friend. And always full of shocking suprises." She winks, no remorse for that wretched pun. "And your secret is safe with me. Everybody has secrets. I know what it's like to get one exposed when you weren't expecting it, and it sucks ass. So," she turns and looks to Angela and Aksel as well, "Should we all go out to a bar and have a beer for breakfast? We can piece together clues tomorrow." She looks down at herself, still in her yukata and flip flops. "I guess I can put on clothes. UGH." She throws her head back and groans. "Take your time looking at the scene, guys. The input you've given is invaluable."
Angela nods back to Conni, thoughtful for a moment. "So, let me see if I've got this right. Whatever they were doing resulted in that weird lightning and that incredibly specific tidal wave. If he was going for one target, that seems like overkill. Sloppy overkill. Which I guess matches up with the symbols being sloppy, too." She takes a breath, "And, hey, if stuff out of my set of traditions can be real, why not anyone else's yeah? And we all need a vacation now and again."
Sighing at the ghost in the room, he turned away and went into the hallway, looking to Angela and nodding. "No doubt. Whatever he did, for whatever reason he did, will haunt him forever." He eyed Aurelie, voice deadpanned. "But not as bad as having to spend the rest of eternity watching pimply goths chase each other around in just slightly too tight leather." He waggled his eyebrows at the woman and shrugged, looking to Conni. "I've talked about it once, I guess it didn't sink in. And seriously... what was that guy's problem with mead? Mead's fine. Did I miss the hard sell on mead or something?" He looked to Aurelie. "Do you have mead? I'm not saying I want any right now but my dad used buys it on special occasions and I sort of miss it." He hiked a thumb towards the downstairs. "Speaking of which, I would love to indulge in a breakfast. Though I'll just have a nice mixed drink. Something cold that acts as a basic sugar delivery system."
Conni manages a smile, ice blue eyes locking with Angela's for a moment as she looks over. "I was sort of forced to go on holiday. I may have assaulted someone in HR. Yes, we have HR." She grins some more, blowing out a long breath. "Sloppy but still with a lot of power, more than I would have thought even that group could raise. We're lucky it didn't blow the roof off."
Pushing off from the wall, Conni turns to face Aksel. "There are worse ways to spend eternity and no, I do not know why he dislikes mead. I'm fifty fifty between a good mead and ale but I'd not turn my nose up at it." Slowly she starts to head off after Auri, letting her wings fade finally as she comes up to her. "Sorry, I'm in pain and quite irritable. I didn't mean to lose my temper and I think a breakfast beer would be a wonderful idea." She smiles as she regards Auri, a smile full of warmth as she regards her host. "It's not like I could fight everyone who showed my cards. I do actually want to relax occasionally and...thank you."
Aurelie nods in agreement with Angela. "What she said. Everybody has truth, right? Where we come from, who we are. None of us can know it all. And hell, who are we going to tell? They'll think we're high or nuts!" She laughs and shrugs her shoulders, smiling coyly between Conni, Angela and Aksel. "Breakfast of champions it is. Something mixed for Aksel, a decent ale for Conni, and for me...maybe Sex on the Beach." The Proprietress tips a wink of one sea-green eye as she sashays for a door towards the other end of the hallway. "Meet you downstairs!" she chimes, making her way to her suite as the yukata falls from her shoulders, dragged behind the naked woman as she opens her room, presumably to find clothes.
Angela rises and puts her camera away. "Breakfast would do me a world of good, too. Beer, well, its got to be five o'clock somewhere and after this little tableau I could use one." She slips her camera into a pocket. "I am so gonna have to figure out how to bribe the local crows..."
Aksel followed after, eyebrows going up as Aurelie stripped off before she went in to her room. After a few seconds he shrugged and followed the other two down the stairs. "Don't have to explain anything to me. I hear lady on vacation, don't need to hear a lot more." He shrugged at Angela's comment. I might be able to talk someone or other, but I couldn't exactly promise anything. I'm still pretty new here so my contacts aren't exactly solid at the moment." He waved a hand behind him to Aurelie. "See you!"
"Breakfast beer. Now I really feel at home, this could end up being a good morning." Letting out a long drawn out sigh, Conni heads down to the bar area, looking to camp out a stool until she is ready to face the day, preferably after much beer. Looking over to Angela, she pats one of the bar stools. "Try marmite and bread, birds back home go crazy for it. You never know..." Looking over to Aksel, Conni actually laughs. "You'll get used to it, there are worse thing to look at. Come on now, join us for breakfast so we can see the day in properly."
Angela follows along to the bar and takes a seat, "I swear, everwhere my great-grandfather went and stayed for more than a week at a time he had every crow in the area thoroughly bribed. Pretty sure he had them spying for him too." She nods to Conni, "Except for that one time the worst I typically got was a car wreck. Then again there were only about two thousand people in my home town. Teeny compared to out here." Beer, breakfast and a case ... this could turn out all right.
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