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WHO: James, Li-Na, Derek, Zee, and anyone else!
WHERE: Zee's office, then Derek's apartment
WHEN: late on 2/5 through 2/12
WHAT: just a bit of light kidnapping!
WARNINGS: none yet

[ Come February 6th, Zee's office is empty and locked. Which is pretty odd, considering he said he'd be available from now on.

Anyone interested in investigating further, though, may find a few clues near his office to look into. Like security footage on the street, or a discarded cup of coffee that didn't quite make it to a trash can.

Are you up for the challenge of finding out where Zee Carlisle has gone to?

Please make new toplevels on this log and mark the date when they're supposed to take place, please! ]

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[When Zee holds out his hand for the coffee cup, she casually hands it to him.]

It's vanilla. I remember you saying you liked that flavour.

[Even if she'd seen James's glance, what could she do? To not give Zee the coffee when she arrived would be strange, and probably something he would notice. So she'd tried to make sure the dose was low enough that a few sips wouldn't be enough. Zee would have to drink at least half the latte to ingest enough to knock him out. And even then, how quickly he drank that half latte could affect how quickly the drug kicked in. If he drank it too slowly, he might have enough time to notice himself getting sleepy. And if Zee agreed to leave with them willingly... then she could just 'accidentally' knock the latte over before he drank enough.

Li-Na steps into Zee's office after James, looking around a moment before she sets the box containing the cupcake on the corner of Zee's desk.]

Aren't you worried he'll come after you?

[Because they sure are worried about that.]

[Derek is still waiting, outside, listening. It's a pity he doesn't know any simple sleeping potions, that would get this done a lot quicker. He stays silent and is mentally wishing Zee would just finish the drink already.]

[He lifts an eyebrow because like. Yeah. But simultaneously as they enter the office he's leaning against his desk and taking a large sip of the coffee.]

Thanks for this by the way. And yeah, I'm moving. It's more of a front than anything, most of my stuff is another office but I need access to the city. And unless either of you have other bright ideas what to do about the company? This is just how it has to be.

[ Another office is better than nothing, he supposes. But as long as Zee intends to spend time here--probably significant time, if this is where he's going to be meeting with other Retrospeccers--he's still in danger. He wants to launch into an outburst over this being "how it has to be," because it's stupid and also bullshit, but. He really can't risk it, given the larger overall plan here. ]

It really doesn't, Zee. You could just stay somewhere else in the city, away from Retrospec, where Vanderweele doesn't have direct access to you like he does all the other employees!

[ It's starting to look like they might need to knock him out after all. Thankfully Zee has already started on that coffee. ]

Not to mention you could really use a bodyguard. If Vanderweele gets to you, we're all done for.

[She taps her chin as she's reminded of something in one of her memories.]

We had to do that in my past life. The Earl was trying to kill all the Generals, so the Exorcists were put in teams and assigned to guard them.

[Though in this case it'd be more like a meatshield. Someone to distract Vanderweele while Zee is able to escape.]

[Derek is now wondering why he couldn't just remember some sleeping spell to get this whole part over and done with. When will that thing kick in? He's waiting to hear a loud thud, indicating Zee has fallen asleep on his desk.]

[Both of them are arguing good points, Zee's drinking his coffee, and he blinks a little to keep himself focused. It's important what they're saying, yeah, but...]

And risk putting everybody else in danger when it's you guys he's also after. Yeah, no, thanks but no thanks. I have guard dogs and I have security settings on the door and I can still teleport just fine. [...] But it does make me wonder how tapped into the city he is.

[He slouches against his desk a little.] ...you're going to keep trying to talk me into this, aren't you?

[ Yeah, they are. At least until you fall asleep, Zee.

James scoffs at his flimsy justification. ]

We're already in danger as it is. You not throwing yourself to the wolves doesn't make us be in any more danger than we already are!

[ Even if Zee's already looking kinda drowsy, James still wants to convince him anyway. Out of principle. He'd feel way less terrible about all this if Zee came willingly with them, even if 'willingly' means 'getting drugged unwittingly and dragged halfway across town, but at least accepting why.' ]

[Li-Na gives Zee a worried smile.]

Yes, that's the general idea. It's not that I doubt Bāndiǎn's bravery, but we need to do more than just plug up the security holes.

[Li-Na, did you put enough sleeping pills in there? Honestly, these two are much too nice about all this. Zee's lucky he's not the one in there.]

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