The June Detective [Open]

[detectiveofthewest]

A: Everyone's a critic

The only negative thing about his promotion was that Heiji really only had a select few people he could even tell about it -- mention you weren't really a human in casual conversation, see how long till you ended up under psychiatric evaluation. Still, Heiji could hardly conceal his good mood. Thus he had rewarded himself with the latest moderately detective-themed airplane novel by a decent writer that he could find, and was rapidly making his way through it on the train, in the park, wherever.

"I dunno. I can understand likin' a writer a lot. I don't see why anyone would commit murder because of it, though. Ain't that goin' a little too far?"

B: I've just had a little fae experience

Provided they slipped through just the right set of trees, someone might just find the rest of London fade away -- the noise of traffic, the noise of the crowd. Dense forest would press in from all sides, but a stone walkway would lead up below a long row of brightly-painted red wooden gates of some ceremonial significance.

At the top of the stone steps: a small shrine, with two guardian fox statues on either side. How curious...

C Other! Open to suggestions and such; Heiji will also just be outright barging into the personal space of whoever he's friendly with and starting up conversations during the month, so that's a thing, too.

Comments

Perhaps a little of A but in the Other Realm?

[rules_winter]

A cool breeze preceded her, frosting the needles on the nearby trees as she made her way through the forest, only to hear the complaint off to the side. When she broke through the tree-line she glanced down at the man focused on his book, and tilted her head. "Sometimes it isn't a matter of making sense. If someone likes something they simply wish to keep it to themselves." Her voice broke the silence he'd lapsed back into as she looked down at him and his book, a little curve of her lip showing some amusement at having found him complaining about mortal literature. "Personally I find it a waste."

cool with me!

[detectiveofthewest]

"Yeah, maybe. He does seem like a pretty obsessive type..." Heiji looked up and spotted Mab, who to be fair was rather distinctive in appearance. He closed the book and gave her a proper bow; he did know his manners, after all, even if he didn't always choose to exercise them.

"Lady Mab, isn't it? Don't think we've had the chance to get acquainted."

[rules_winter]

To carry on a conversation without thought was impressive. But Heiji caught on quickly and he was respectably polite. Mab inclined her head in response to the bow, the cooling air seemed to settle into the quietness of the Other Realm naturally, though everything nearer to him was still summer warm.

"No, we have not." She had not had a chance to travel into Summer's demesne since he had joined the London Seelie court and therefore did not know his name. "I find myself at a disadvantage." She had heard that someone in the Seelie court had just become a knight, rumors flitted about the courts like leaves. Fae enjoy a little gossip.

[detectiveofthewest]

"I'm Heiji, a knight of the Seelie court. And I guess you've caught me at a hobby of mine." Namely, reading detective fiction.

"I know that our courts are technically opposed, but I hope you'll decide to make an appearance at the Litha feast! It's going to be quite an event." She did seem to have a bit of a chilly air about her, but that was part of her reputation as well.

[rules_winter]

"Sir Heiji." She filed his name away for reference and pronounced his name exactly as he had, inflections and all. "Reading mortal literature about murdering authors is a hobby?"

Litha was fast approaching, and the balance of Seelie power in the north would soon begin to wane. "I expect it will be." She agreed. "Perhaps I shall find a way to make an appearance." No promises but it would be stupid to miss a court event. Knowledge was power, after all and how could one gain such knowledge without observation?

[detectiveofthewest]

He nodded, but didn't push her on making an appearance -- fae did what they wanted when they wanted, and that went double for Unseelie.

"More like murders in general," he said in response to her question, setting the book down so that it rested in the cleft between a tree and its lowest-hanging branch.

"It's like a game. The basic rules were published in 1928 by S.S. Van Dine, the author of the Philo Vance series. Things like 'The reader must have equal opportunity with the detective for solving the mystery.' In other words, they take place in a universe with an ordered set of rules. Within those rules, the reader tries to deduce the identity of the culprit before the character in the story. Of course, not everyone follows Van Dine's proposal."

[rules_winter]

Well, he was fae, it wasn't terribly surprising he enjoyed reading about murder. Her eyes followed the book settling as Heiji apparently gave her his undivided attention.

"No, humans truly are terrible about rules. It can be most irritating." She agreed, mystified by the detailed explanation about Murder Mysteries. Games though, those she understood. Perhaps there were not enough current games outside books to keep him truly occupied?

"Tell me, do you often find time to take in a book?"

[detectiveofthewest]

No... not terribly surprising at all. And Heiji did enjoy games.

There was a bit of mischievousness to his smile now. "Not as much as I used to. But I still make a little time. 'Course, in real life, murders are a bit more straightforward. Human ones, anyway."

...And a little depressing, honestly. An angry, overgrown boy beating his wife. A squabble over the family inheritance. A million other mundane variations that could really strip away one's faith in humanity, if you let it.

[rules_winter]

"Is that so? Sometimes the human mind can be a baffling thing. But yes, generally it is for Money, Power or Love, I have found. It is when the three are woven together that things become complicated."

Mab had no concerns about losing her faith in humanity. They were useful sometimes but for the most part, very little of her concern. "Less time due to affairs of this Realm?" Fae politics could certainly take over one's life. And the annoyances of some of the other creatures that roamed London had become more interesting as of late from what she'd heard. Ways blocked between worlds, Fae hunted by vampires.

B

[mensrea]

Hood pulled up over his head, he makes the trip across London to visit the shrine. While the weather isn’t particularly dour this day, it’s cool enough for a Californian like Stiles to feel chilled. So he donned his favorite sweatshirt before following the directions Heiji had given to him via text message. The request to meet had been vague, but after the Blackthorn Mansion incident, Stiles’ trust in Heiji is fairly strong. He even leaves behind his precious lacrosse stick.

Once he reaches the shrine itself, he pauses to spin on a heel and soak in the sight of the place. The architecture is fascinating, though the statues kind of give him the creeps.

“Hey, Heiji! You there, dude?”

[detectiveofthewest]

"Hey! You're right on time!" Heiji stepped out from behind a shelf of stone, grinning brightly at Stiles.

"So, how d'you like your first trip to Faery? Kinda unreal, ain't it?"

[mensrea]

Returning the grin, Stiles offers a wave before closing the space between them. The statues are given a wary look, as if he half-expects them to jump out at him any second.

"Wait, are we...? Like, right now?"

He'd noticed the difference, yet hadn't assumed the source. His mouth drops open as he reevaluates the immediate area in amazement.

"I just thought it was some kinda warding spell! Dude!" This is cool beyond words. In fact, all he can do is repeat the endearment in shock. "Dude."

[detectiveofthewest]

"Pretty cool, huh?" As he walked toward Stiles, he shifted to his fox form, complete with his shiny new tail. He turned and presented his back to Stiles.

"I figure since you been pokin' around so much, I might as well show you around a bit before you ended up wandering in on your own. How about it? Feel like a lift?"

[mensrea]

Heiji is pulling out all the stops today, and Stiles is going to have sensory overload from trying to take everything in. He abruptly abandons his inspection of the shrine to stare openly at his friend's fox form, which he's only ever seen once—and he doesn't think that time really counted, honestly; the lighting in that dungeon-esque room had been terrible. Fingers itching to touch, he stuffs his hands in his sweatshirt pockets and makes the appropriate "oooh" and "ahhh" noises of appreciation in regards to the tails. Stiles, at least, has done some basic research on kitsune to understand the importance of the tails.

"Um, yes." It then occurs to him what Heiji is offering. Only just barely restraining himself from bouncing in glee, he nods furiously and approaches. "Oh my god, dude, this is so cool. You're so cool. I'm so glad you covered me in oil that one time."

Out of context, that sounds...really weird, but Stiles totally doesn't notice. He's too busy trying to climb up on Heiji's back.

[detectiveofthewest]

If there's one thing Heiji loved, honestly, it was compliments. When Stiles started making impressed noises (oh my god), he might as well have started preening. Totally worth it.

Heiji knelt down a bit to help Stiles climb up. What are friends for, right? Best of all, his fur was as fluffy and soft as before. "Yeah? Me, too! I don't get to show folks around every day... but when I do, it's a real treat. Hold on tight, alright?"

Once Stiles was safely secured, he'd leap up along the tree branches toward the forest's edge. As they ascended, the thick blanket of emerald leaves cleared, revealing a wash of warm twilight. This was sunset in the Other Realm, a time of growing quiet and the barest hint of loneliness. There were several directions they could head in: there was a small town, what looked like a lake, and of course there was the rest of the forest.

"So where to?"

[mensrea]

Settled astride the fox, Stiles takes this golden opportunity to pet Heiji’s fur. The conclusion? It is as soft and silky as it looks. There’s a small voice in the back of his head telling him that this is weird, super weird. Except his whole life has been nothing but weird since Scott was bitten. If there’d been a chance that he wouldn’t have gotten his throat torn out in the process, he totally would have pet Scott’s fur too.

In response to the warning, Stiles flounders before seizing fistfuls of scruff to hold onto. He’s never so much as ridden a horse, so this position is more than a little uncomfortable. Worth it, though. Definitely worth it. Even Stiles is stunned speechless by the scenery, the ethereal beauty of it all instilling him with a quiet, contemplative energy.

“Take me to your leader,” he intones in his best nasally martian voice. So much for that.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji laid his ears back briefly when Stiles started petting him -- not out of aggression, but because he kind of enjoyed the sensation of being petted despite himself no one must know. When Stiles answered his question, he gave little bark of a laugh, then decided that since there was no way Stiles was presentable to his actual leader (at least not in his street clothes), he headed down toward the lake.

It reflected coolly in the fading light and was surrounded by sweet-smelling grass and white, bell-like flowers. Insects that might remind Stiles of fireflies provided a display of flickering lights. Heiji sat down on the bank to let Stiles slide off if he wanted.

"London used to be a bit more like this," said Heiji. "Or at least that's what they tell me."

A; Hey lookit how late I am do I get a medal

[alethiological]

Talking to yourself on a train isn't healthy Heiji. The other humans give an occasional glance or outright ignore him, but the air is tinged slightly fae with far too much silver to be healthy, and the one sitting across with their face hidden in a newspaper is the only one that answers.

"It's a type of mirroring. The culprit obsesses over the writer, then replicates the writer's story in an attempt to show similarity to said writer. Most likely in some delirious attempt to gain the writer's attention, praise, or friendship. The motive is less a desire to kill, but more of a desire to send a message to the relevant person. Additionally, stop trying to judge a third-rate novel to higher standards."

The entire statement is delivered in a neigh-monotone to the obituaries section, automated and bluntly honest, but hey. Valid points. Mystery nerd located.

the shiniest medal

[detectiveofthewest]

"No, no, that's the first guy. The -- " Oh.

Oh, it was that dude from the party. The one that he'd run into and (he was pretty sure) Stiles had described to him.

"You're that guy who shoved Stiles into the closet." Nailed it.

wears it proudly forever

[alethiological]

Wait, what? That is the exact amount of weird to get him to look up from his paper and - oh God it's a fae. He didn't ask for this aren't they supposed to avoid outcasts anyway wait no he started the conversation this time shit-

While the panic reigns internally, the expressions and response are a literal monotone, "Don't remember shoving Stiles into a closet."

This is not, in fact, a denial. Hashtag inability to lie.

Re: wears it proudly forever

[detectiveofthewest]

Hmm. Did Willard not know Stiles's name? Had he been sauced at the time? Or did he shove so many billions of dudes into closets that he just didn't remember Stiles's case in particular?

Whatever the case, there was only one guy at the Redbright party that matched Stiles's description. Heiji moved seats so that he was across from Willard. "Well, he sure remembers you. Said you seemed pretty chill at first, but then ya flipped out."

[alethiological]

But he doesn't flip out. Unless there's heresy involved which means the problem is solved by murder and Stiles being shoved in a closet would actually be a method of self-restraint, but this is entirely hypothetical of course because everything past meeting Stiles is a haze of nothing.

It's just another black spot in memory and nothing is concerning about it at all, people need to stop prying about it.

"I still don't remember that." An odd choice of words. Wouldn't someone say they don't know, but the option is cut off with. "Can we not talk about this. I thought it was a scandal to talk to me."

[detectiveofthewest]

"So it's true." Willard was an outcast. Which meant that Heiji really shouldn't be talking to him. Still, he was curious. Why did he keep saying he didn't remember? Where was he going? Why did he read mystery novels? How had he gotten himself thrown out? Why had he shoved Stiles into a closet?

Okay, maybe the last one wasn't such a big mystery. But clearly, a billion other questions.

Then: "I never actually met anyone like you. But I guess it's too late to ignore ya now." After all, he'd already talked to Willard. Oops.

[alethiological]

There's a short 'nn' sound, entirely dismissing, but confirming the assumption was right. There. Warning gave. Now he'll bug off like every other fae in existence and he can finish his paper and wait he's still talking?

This never happens. Maybe he isn't concerned? Which is stupid, so very foolish, and the pointed eye contact is far too intense with that weird gold shade. "The Court doesn't know yet. That means you're late. So back off."

Now can be the exact moment Heiji realizes why he's an asshole. No need to get someone thrown out just for talking to him. Even better when it can't be pinNed as their fault. Being an outcast sucks.

No one else deserves that.

[detectiveofthewest]

Heiji cocked his head slightly to the side as he listened to Willard; for once, his usual easy social camouflage slipped a bit and something about the way he watched the man across from him more closely resembled the stare of some nocturnal animal than it did someone who'd happened to run into a minor acquaintance.

Then he shrugged, and everything was normal again. "Whatever. You need a girlfriend or something, dude." He stood as the train pulled into the next station, waiting with the other passengers to disembark. Just as he did so, however, he said something -- probably just a parting jab. "I'd check the personals. Plenty of lonely weirdos in there."

The doors closed behind him. Warning received. However, should Willard choose to look, there would be an unusual personals ad in the paper he'd been reading for the next few days. Seemingly your usual cryptic account of a missed encounter, it was actually a carefully constructed code based on the book Heiji had been reading on the train, which translated to a single cell phone number.

Well. If Willard had the skills to decode it.